Coal news and updates

Australian coal takes advantage of Japanese nuclear fears

Australia's coal exporters have identified Japan's post-Fukushima suspicion of nuclear energy as a chance to slow the slide in demand.

Industry heads from both Australia and Japan gathered in Brisbane in Thursday to discuss the future of coal exports to Japan.

The biennial Australia Japan Coal Conference, hosted by the Minerals Council of Australia, was held at the Sofitel Hotel in Brisbane, but no media was allowed inside.

While the conference was held behind closed doors, MCA executive director for coal Greg Evans said the discussions inside were positive.

Mr Evans said Japan remained Australia's largest export market for coal for use in both energy and steel production.

He said the the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster had prompted an energy rethink in Japan, which Australia's coal industry could benefit from.

"There has been a shift back to coal," he said.

"The Japanese are constantly investing into technology and especially the latest ultra-supercritical power stations that produce more energy per tonne of coal.

"They're conscious of the need to reduce CO2 omissions and they're doing that through technology."

Mr Evans said 220 delegates attended Thursday's conference, 108 of whom had come from Japan.

 "It's an opportunity for us to get together and talk about the outlook for the sector," he said.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald