Coal exports to climb by 2010

Jakarta

Sales to Asia will help Australian coal exports climb 20% over the next eight years, the nation's commodities forecaster said Tuesday.

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE), said strong growth in Asian electricity markets was likely to bolster overseas sales by Australian coal procedures.

Coal exports were likely to reach 230 million metric tons by 2010, up to 40 million metric tons on current levels.

ABARE executive director Brian Fisher said global coal consumption would grow, while Australia would retain its position as the world's biggest coal exporter.

"Global coal consumption, production and trade will grow strongly into the future and Australia will continue to play a dominant role in the world coal market, " he said in a statement.

Fisher warned the only possible setback facing coal was the introduction of greenhouse gas emission restrictions under the Kyoto Protocol, which could see a reduction in the use of fossil fuels to produce electricity.

Australia, which last year exported about 8 billion Australian dollars (US$4.1 billion) worth of coal, was likely to face increased competition from producers in China and Indonesia, ABARE said.

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