Focus NSW

Focus NSW: A Mine of Interest

"When you think of NSW you think of Coal. But its just part of the story"

NSW is justifiably proud of its mining industry, which has a total value of mineral production of about $23 billion.

Coal production, valued at about $19 billion, is the state’s largest mining sector.

Metallic and industrial mineral production and construction material production is also very significant – valued at an estimated $3.5 billion.

NSW gold production, in particular, has increased significantly over the past decade. The state is now the second-biggest gold producer in Australia after Western Australia.

In the past financial year, 103.3 million tonnes of coal worth an estimated $17 billion were exported from NSW. Coal is the single largest export from NSW in value terms.

NSW is fortunate to have a bountiful supply of coal reserves, centred around the 500km long Sydney-Gunnedah Basin. Within the Sydney-Gunnedah Basin are five major coalfields: the Hunter, Southern, Western, Gunnedah and Newcastle coalfields. Further coal reserves are found in the Gloucester and Oaklands Basin.

NSW is experiencing a bumper period of mineral development, with a number of important new projects recently opened or proposed to start over the next few years.

And this is despite the recent global economic downturn.

 

"A coal carrier leaves Newcastle Port – Australia’s oldest and one of the largest tonnage throughput ports, with coal exports representing more than 90 per cent of total throughput tonnage."

The comparatively low cost of exploration and developing new mines in NSW against other states and countries makes investment in exploration and mineral development particularly attractive.

The NSW government will ensure the state keeps winning its fair share of investment and has a significant role to play in attracting investment.

The NSW government strongly supports exploration, with more than $90 million in special funding provided over the past 12 years, and has underlined its continuing commitment to exploration research by investing an extra $16.5 million in the “New Frontiers” exploration initiative and extending this to 2011.

Government-funded initiatives have resulted in more than 80 per cent of the state covered by high resolution geophysical surveys.

There are many positive attributes that help make NSW a reliable and efficient provider of high-quality natural resources and home to the biggest coal port in the world.

"Coal production, valued at about $19 billion is the state’s largest mining sector."

  • A stable government

  • Significant reserves of high-quality thermal and coking coals

  • A highly skilled and experienced workforce

  • A thriving mining technology sector

  • Ninety per cent of the world’s mining software is generated in Australia

  • A world-leading safety culture

  • Developed export supply chains that are still expanding

 "NSW gold production, in particular, has increased significantly over the past decade. The state is now the second-biggest gold producer in Australia, after Western Australia." 

Out of the mining industry has emerged a generation of innovative and globally competitive mining technology companies.

The sophisticated, world-competitive mining technology services industry has an excellent track record in planning, design, development and servicing of mining software and equipment, scientific analysis, exploration assessment technology, mineral processing technology, environmental services and health and safety services and equipment.

Meantime, the NSW government is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while maintaining a strong and sustainable mining sector and is active in reducing CO2 emissions through a number of projects.

The Munmorah pilot plant is a joint initiative by Delta Electricity and the CSIRO.

This $7 million post-combustion capture pilot facility will investigate the potential to adapt post carbon capture (PCC) ammonia absorption processes to Australian conditions – capturing greenhouse gas emissions from the Munmorah power station on the state’s Central Coast.

The pilot started in February 2009 and the experimental program is due to be completed later this year.

More than $28 million in joint funding by the NSW government, the Australian Coal Association and the Commonwealth government was recently announced for a follow-up carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration project in NSW.

One of the things we are very proud of in NSW is our safety record and our history of safety reform.

The minerals industry in NSW has a simple approach to safety – it is the number one priority. The industry is committed to zero harm. This commitment is supported by the substantial and sustained improvement in the level of safety throughout the operations of all companies across NSW.

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