Premier Anna Bligh of the Australian state of Queensland in a statement on Tuesday announced a trifecta of proposals from major mining companies, which could lead to, among other things, the construction of Australia's first port for coal export at Queensland. The three proposals, titled Galilee Coal Project proposal, Bowen Basin Coal Growth Project proposal, and Wandoan Coal Project proposal, is envisaged to deliver a "quantum leap" for Queensland's coal industry by increasing its coal exporting capacity by 40%.

The first and largest of the three projects under consideration is the A$5.3 billion Galilee Coal proposal by Waratah Coal Inc., a Canadian mining company with investments in Australia. The project incorporates a large-scale mine near Alpha in Central Queensland with a potential to produce 25 million tons of thermal coal for export every year and a new port near Shoalwater Bay between Rockhampton and Mackay having a capacity of up to 100 million tons of coal per year.

The premier noted that a new 500 km rail line is being considered to connect both places helping in opening the region to coal exports. Defence Force land would be used for the project so that adjacent Byfield National Park remained untouched. The project aims to start exporting coal by 2012 from the Alpha mine, which has the potential to expand its production to 50 million tones per year. The project also has the potential to create 2,200 jobs during the construction phase and a further 760 jobs when it becomes operational.

The Bowen Basin Coal Growth Project has been proposed by the BHP Billiton Ltd. -Mitsubishi alliance. The project incorporates two new mines at Daunia and Caval Ridge south of Moranbah and an expansion of the existing Gooyella Riverside Mine north of Moranbah. The project is projected to boost coking coal exports in the area by about 20 million tonnes, with 40% of the increase being contributed by the Goonyella Riverside Mine. According to the premier, the second project has the potential to generate 2,450 new jobs during construction and an operational employment of 1240 jobs.

The third proposal, Wandoan Coal Project proposal, has been proposed by a Xstrata Coal-led consortium. The project consists of a 30 million tons a year open cut coal mine near Wandoan, about 350 km north-west of Brisbane. The premier stated that the "project has the potential to rival the size of the state's largest coal projects and account for about a quarter of Australia's annual thermal coal exports." Also, the proposed mine would employ 1,000 people during the construction phase and about 500-600 people during operations.

Premier Anna Bligh said, "My government is determined that this state should be in a position to take advantage of our abundance of natural resources. That is why our work with industry, searching for clean coal solutions, is so important. Between State Government initiatives and private industry investment we have committed $900 million to develop clean coal technologies. The projects I have outlined today can make sure Queensland is ready to harness all the energy of a future of clean coal."

WCI.V closed Monday's regular trading on the CDNX at C$3.36, up C$0.06, or 1.82%, on a volume of 47, 205 shares.

On NYSE, BHP closed at $77.15 on Monday's trading, rising $0.37, or 0.48%, with a volume of 4.47 million shares.

XTA.L on the LSE is currently trading at 3,810.00 pence, down 70.00 pence, or 1.80%, on a volume of 421,357 shares.