SYDNEY, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Five new areas in the Australian state of Queensland's Bowen Basin opened up for the exploration of coal resources on Friday, helping to bolster supplies of one of Australia's most valuable exports.
According to Queensland Mines Minister Anthony Lynham, the areas have a high potential for being rich in not just thermal coal but also a type of coal known as metallurgical coal, which today is used in manufacturing over 70 percent of the world's steel.
Four areas have opened up which hold the potential for metallurgical coal, while a much larger area of 380 square km has opened with the potential for thermal coal.
Exploration is the lifeblood of the resources sector, and it provides the thousands of jobs and business opportunities, particularly in regional Queensland, Lynham said.
Australia is the world's largest exporter of metallurgical coal, a large percentage of which goes to steel mills in China.
The new areas of exploration are hoped to support the growing export industry of metallurgical coal which during the past financial year equated to 180 million tonnes.
"The world needs our metallurgical coal as part of the transition to renewables," Lynham said.
"That's steel for building homes, and to manufacture the vast structures of wind turbines and components for the burgeoning electric vehicles industry for the renewables sector."
