exergen, page-2

" The first Australia-China export and investment boom was almost entirely about metal, particularly iron ore. The next one will be about energy, beginning with coal.....

A bigger reason is the perception that China's coal-driven economy is running out of coal.....

China will, of course, discover more reserves and the certainty of rising prices will make it economical to exploit less accessible deposits. Nevertheless, China's fear that it will run out of coal is already shaping Australia's resources future.

China's net coal imports are up 2200 per cent so far this year, with Australia being by far the biggest beneficiary........

''Of course, from the Australian perspective … it's all good news. Over the long term, China's imports of coal are set to explode.''

The good news for Australia will get even better as China's energy insecurity - and concerns about safety, pollution and climate change - pushes the country away from its reliance on coal. Australia's exports of coal, natural gas and uranium are all set to explode.

http://www.smh.com.au/business/chinas-energy-fears-good-for-our-miners-20091101-hrlw.html