Australian Coal Association

The Australian Coal Association (ACA) represents the nation’s black coal industry.

Headquartered in Canberra, Australia, the ACA is focused on policy development and advocacy for the long-term future of an environmentally sustainable, safe, profitable and efficient coal mining industry.

The ACA has 24 member companies and is guided by a Board. ACA member companies operate predominantly in New South Wales and Queensland (the states that produce around 97% of Australia’s black coal). Our membership also has operations in Western Australia and Tasmania.

The Association works closely with all levels of government – federal, state and local – and has strong links with Australia’s other resource sector advocacy groups, particularly the NSW Minerals Council  and the Queensland Resources Council.

Black coal is a vital national resource that underpins energy security in Australia and sustains the steelmaking and cement industries. Ensuring the sector plays a constructive role in the public policy debate is a critical focus of the ACA.

Australian Coal Association Low Emissions Technologies Limited (ACALET) manages the COAL21 Fund on behalf of the industry. COAL21 is a voluntary, $1 billion fund dedicated to the demonstration and deployment of low emission coal technologies such as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). Through ACALET, the Australian black coal industry is pursuing technological solutions to reduce carbon. Such technology is essential for oil, gas and coal along with a wide range of industrial sectors.

While changes in demand for coal as a consequence of climate change policy around the world will likely lead to changes within the industry, coal will continue to play a significant role in energy security long into the future.

With more than 100 years of coal resources available in Australia, minimising coal’s greenhouse gas emissions through research and development and supporting innovative technology such as CCS is a key part of the ACA’s commitment to addressing climate change.

Critics of the coal industry rarely acknowledge the important role that coal has played in the development of Australia as a nation, the importance of the coal mining industry to employment, or the value coal contributes to the Australian community.

The ACA’s objective is to strike the right balance between our environmental responsibility and coal’s vital role in energy and construction, advocating on behalf of the coal industry and leading the way in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through technology and research.