Port of Newcastle
{{#badges:CoalSwarm|Navbar-Australiacoal}} Port of Newcastle, the world's largest coal export port, is located in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
There are three separate coal terminals within the Port of Newcastle: Carrington coal terminal and Kooragang Coal Terminal, both operated by Port Waratah Coal Services; and the newer NCIG Coal Export Terminal, operated by the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group. The three terminals have a combined annual capacity of 211 million tonnes. Most coal exports are to China and Japan.[1]
A fourth coal loader has been proposed at the port, the Newcastle Terminal 4.
Contents
Location
The undated satellite photo below shows the port in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Background
In April 2014 the government of New South Wales entered into a $1.62 billion, 99-year agreement leasing the port to the Port of Newcastle consortium[2], which is owned 50% by the Australia-based Infrastructure Fund (managed by Hastings) and 50% by the Hong Kong-based China Merchants Group.
In December 2014, the Port of Newcastle consortium announced that it would increase charges for loading coal effective January 1, 2015, noting that port's former owner (the government of New South Wales) had not maintained prices in line with market rates during its 19-year tenure.[3]
In December 2015 the Port of Newcastle reported that for the calendar year to November 2015, its coal exports were down 3 percent year over year to 98.4 million metric tons. Analysts have said the decline brings into question the "robust growth coal industry" storyline promulgated by coal groups to promote expansion of the port.[4]
Opposition
In October 2014, protestors from a dozen South Pacific nations announced plans for a day-long blockade of ships entering and leaving the Port of Newcastle, to express their opposition to the port's impact on climate change.[5]
Resources
References
- ↑ "Facilities", Newcastle Port Corporation website, accessed January 2015.
- ↑ "Australia State Sells World's Largest Coal-Export Terminal for $1.62 Billion", Wall Street Journal, April 30, 2014.
- ↑ "Australian Newcastle port's new leaseholder hikes charges for coal ships", Platts, December 4, 2014.
- ↑ Tim Buckley, "The News From Newcastle: Coal Is in a Bind," IEEFA, Dec 7, 2015
- ↑ "South Pacific flotilla to protest climate change inaction at Australia coal port", Reuters, October 1, 2014.
