Mining Magazine July 2016 | Page 19

FINGER ON THE PULSE

“ Mining is here for the long haul . It has been foundational in the growth of civilisation over the past 5,000 years or so , and will continue to have a key role in the future ”

civilisation over the past 5,000 years or so , and will continue to have a key role in the future . As mining is ultimately dependent on end-consumer demand there will always be changes in what is mined , in what quantity , and as a result , what technologies are employed to maximise productivity and return on investment .
Around 80 percent of Pulse Mining ’ s clients are coal miners , and coal is a commodity that many industry analysts see as being on the brink of structural decline ; that is , global demand has peaked and will begin to fall , prices are low , are not viable , and will continue to remain low , and many of the larger companies are divesting and shifting their focus elsewhere .
In spite of this , coal ’ s future isn ’ t all bleak , particularly for savvy Australian coal miners in the short to medium term . Metallurgical ( coking ) coal is , and will continue to be , required for steel and cement making , whilst good quality thermal coal will continue to be used for electricity generation . Although demand will eventually diminish ( 10 years +), Australian coal will remain competitive on world markets due to our high quality coal resources . Our thermal coal has a high thermal value ( energy content ) and is low in sulphur and ash , making it both more efficient in power production and less polluting than coal sourced from Asia . Australia has a well-established infrastructure , which together with the advantageous of our stable geo-political and industrial relations environment and our proximity to the big Asian markets means that there is considerable optimism for the future amongst Pulse Mining ’ s customers .
19