Let Me Get This Straight: Australia’s Coal Hypocrisy
By Ray Payne – researched by my granddaughter
If Australians use our coal or gas to provide cheap, reliable power for our own families and businesses, it will bring about the end of the planet. But if other countries use the same coal and gas to provide cheap, reliable power for themselves, there’s not a problem.
Aussies are being conned and lied to by BS artists of the first order!
The Australian economy continues to rely on coal as a source of affordable, reliable electricity. In 2022-23, coal supplied 62.6% of electricity to the National Electricity Market, with gas providing 4.5%, hydro 8.3%, and other renewable energy sources—wind, grid solar, and batteries—contributing 24.1%.
Beyond electricity generation, Australian coal is in high demand for process heat, which is essential in the production of alumina, chemicals, paper, machinery, and food manufacturing. It is also a key ingredient in cement and steelmaking. Australia’s high-energy, low-ash coal is perfectly suited for modern, high-efficiency coal-fired power plants being built throughout Asia. Additionally, our high-grade metallurgical coal is among the best in the world for modern steelmaking.
Supplier reliability, proximity to key markets, and solid infrastructure place Australia in a prime position to meet growing demand from nations such as Japan, China, India, Taiwan, South Korea, and Europe, along with emerging buyers in Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand.
Despite this, Australians are being told that coal has no future in our domestic energy supply. We are expected to shut down coal-fired power stations and replace them with unreliable and expensive renewable alternatives, all while exporting millions of tonnes of coal to other countries who will continue to use it for their own industrial and energy needs. If coal is truly so harmful, why are we selling it to others? And if it is a critical resource for our trading partners, why are we being forced to abandon it at home?
In the financial year 2024, Australia’s coal exports were valued at approximately 91 billion Australian dollars. Coking coal exports saw a 3% year-over-year increase in the first half of 2024, reaching 75.5 million tonnes compared to 73.3 million tonnes in the same period last year. This growth was further emphasised by a significant 11% month-over-month surge in June 2024, with exports jumping from 12.97 million tonnes in May to 14.43 million tonnes.
The reality is, coal remains a vital component of both the Australian and global economies. It is undeniable that many of our key allies and trading partners will continue to rely on coal for decades to come. Yet, instead of acknowledging this, Australian policymakers push an unrealistic renewable energy agenda that leaves our citizens with higher power bills and an unstable grid.
The hypocrisy is glaring. We are told that using coal in Australia is unacceptable, yet exporting it to other nations is perfectly fine. If coal is good enough for Japan, India, China, and South Korea, why isn’t it good enough for us? Australians are being taken for fools by those who pretend to care about the environment while happily profiting from coal exports.
It’s time to cut through the nonsense. We must prioritise Australian energy security and affordability over political games. If the rest of the world values our coal, we should too.
