Will Anna Bligh scrap the Felton coal-to-liquids project?
Friends of Felton media release, 24 August 2008
Friends of Felton welcome the announcement that the Bligh Government has scrapped the proposed $14b shale oil mining project in the Whitsundays.
We also welcome the declaration that other big developments will be stopped if they threaten Queensland’s pristine environment, and that legislation will be passed to prohibit new shale oil mines anywhere in Queensland.
We call on the Premier to confirm that this ban will include Ambre Energy’s proposed development at Felton, 30 km SW of Toowoomba, on the Darling Downs. This proposal includes a 12 million tonne/year open-cut coal mine, and a petrochemical plant to convert the coal into liquid fuel.
This project would devastate one of this country’s most beautiful & fertile valleys, contaminate underground aquifers, pollute the Murray Darling river system, destroy nationally significant populations of rare & endangered species, and produce huge quantities of Greenhouse gases.
Ms Bligh was quoted as saying "Our environment must come first".
Will the Felton environment come first too?
Fair Go for Felton
Friends of Felton media release, 24 August 2008
The Premier recently announced a ban on new shale oil developments in Queensland for environmental reasons. In state parliament last week, the Minister for Mines & Energy stated that no new entitlements would be granted until a 2 year review had been carried out.
Friends of Felton were informed by the Premier's dept on 27th August that the Felton project proposed by Ambre Energy was not affected by the ban.
Friends of Felton call for the Felton project to be included in the shale oil ban on the following grounds -
- The coal-to-liquids process at Felton is very similar to the process planned for the Whitsundays.
- Shale has been identified in the resource at Felton ( Ambre Energy IAS 15 Feb 2008, pp 10-11).
- The Whitsundays project threatened the Barrier Reef, the Felton project threatens the Murray Darling Basin.
- Both projects would emit huge amounts of CO2 - at Felton, Ambre Energy themselves say 3t CO2 per 1t fuel.
- The technology involved in both projects is equally unproven.
The Premier was quoted as saying "The environment must come first". By including Felton in the shale oil ban, she will demonstrate her concern for the natural environment as well as the political environment.
See also: www.friendsoffelton.blogspot.com, Qld farmers want new rules for mining in Sunshine Coast Daily of 2 Sep 08, Farmers take on coal project in GLW of 7 Sep 08, comment added on 17 Nov 2011 and reposted here.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 coal-seam-methane-little.jpg | 3.25 KB |
Comments
derickjeff (not verified)
Thu, 2008-11-20 18:48
Permalink
Coal to liquids
thompsonlewis (not verified)
Wed, 2009-01-07 18:17
Permalink
coal to liquids
Anonymous (not verified)
Wed, 2009-03-25 00:00
Permalink
If they mine in Felton ...
Coalportal (not verified)
Wed, 2011-11-16 23:11
Permalink
Industry advocate: more coal needed, can reduce global warming
Editor's comment: The comments posted below were posted last night in reponse to this article and two other article on coal, Shoalwater Bay Wilderness Awareness Group media release of 29 Jul 2008 and Darling Downs community threatened with open-cut mine and coal-to-liquid plant of 24 Aug 2008. It turns out that we have had a previous discussion with Cherry of CoalPortal here on only 30 September. (I am advised that there have been earlier discussions with CoalPortal, but I am not able to easily find them until we improve candobetter's structure and provide our own site-wide search engine.) Further comments, which add to the discussion from both sides, including from Cherry of CoalPortal, are most welcome. Cherry is also welcome to post links back to candobetter from
www.coalportal.com and elsewhere. We are not able to do so ourselves on CoalPortal at least not until we first pay to subscribe to that site.
Developing countries need coal
(Subject was: "coalportal". Originally posted on this page) The call to reduce the use of coals is valid for western countries but unfortunately, coal reports show developing economies are more likely to increase their use of coal in coming years because of its affordability and to meet increasing demands for electricity and steel for the coal industry. See
www.coalportal.com
More infrastructure needed for increased coal exports
(Subject was: "coalportal".Originally posted here) Coal Terminals and additional infrastructure are required in the coal supply chain. Coal industry and coal prices show developing economies are more likely to increase their investment into and their use of thermal coal and metallurgical coal in coming years because of its affordability and to meet increasing demands for electricity and steel.
See www.coalportal.com.
How modern technology can reduce Greenhouse impacts of coal industry
(Subject was: "coalportal". Originally posted here.)The use of sophisticated software systems for coal mining that is mostly burnt for power generation and steel production and adds to the greenhouse effect is valid for western countries who may allocate resources and funds to alternative and more greener sources of power. Some of the alternatives may be "safer" than the traditional mines. Unfortunately, coal statistics show developing economies are more likely to increase their use of thermal coal and metallurgical coal in coming years because of its affordability and to meet increasing demands for electricity and steel. Whether they will embrace and utilise sophisticated software systems that no doubt add to the cost of production is yet to be seen. Cherry of www.coalportal.com.