Coal and the Commonwealth: The greatness of an Australian resource

Coal which has played and will continue to play a major role in the development and progress of Australia as a nation is discussed. Coal currently provides 81 per cent of Australia's electrical generation requirements with black coal supplying 57 percent and brown coal the remaining 24 percent. Coal attracts negative press because of the concern that this particular fossil fuel may have on the changing global climate. Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel on the planet. Coal will outlast oil and natural gas reserves by centuries, with suggestions that coal reserves could possibly last for over 500 years. The concept of a cleaner coal is shifting in Australia towards low emission coal technologies. Australia, because of its vested interest in continuing to reap the economic benefits from its plentiful coal resources and its heavy reliance on coal as an energy resource, is among the world leaders in the development of these low emissions technologies