Developing new Galilee Basin coalmines will cost 12,500 jobs, analysis shows

Developing new coalmines in the Galilee Basin would cost 12,500 jobs in existing coalmining regions and replace only two in three workers, modelling by the Australia Institute shows.

An open-cut mine in the Hunter Valley. If the Galilee Basin produces
150m tonnes of coal a year, then existing coal regions will likely
 curtail production by 115m tonnes a year, analysis shows.

Job creation has long been an aggressive rallying call for supporters of Adani’s Carmichael megamine and other proposals in the untapped Galilee Basin, which combined would produce 150m tonnes of thermal coal each year.

But the Australia Institute report concludes that even if Australia’s thermal coal exports increase, and the world does not act on climate change, highly automated new mines in the Galilee would on balance cost the industry jobs.

The modelling is based on 2017 analysis by consultants Wood Mackenzie, who work closely with the mining industry. Wood Mackenzie said huge volumes of coal mined in the Galilee would curtail established operations in the Hunter Valley, Bowen Basin and Surat Basin regions.

Read the story by Ben Smee from The Guardian - “Developing new Galilee Basin coalmines will cost 12,500 jobs, analysis shows.”