Day 1 Conference Programme - Tuesday 27 July 2010

Opening remarks from the chair

Introducing the conference theme and setting the scene

Chair: Julie Boyd, Chair, Mackay Area Industry Network (MAIN), Special Representative to Japan, Republic of Korea and Philippines, Trade Qld & Chair, Regional Economic Development Corporation (REDC)

State Government Perspective

- Smart energy and mining initiatives
- Queensland Exploration incentives
- Social impact assessment
- Abbot Point/Gladstone port expansion update
- Supporting foreign investment

Stephen Robertson MP, Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Minister for Trade, Member of Stretton

Keynote Address: Optimising resources, technology and relationships for sustainable industry growth

- Impact of proposed CPRS
- Addressing global warming
- Utilising technological breakthroughs
- Sustaining the coal coking and thermal industry
- Forming alliances and partnerships
- Boom 2 readiness
- Global demand for clean coal and LNG

Michael Roche, CEO, Queensland Resources Council (QRC)

Export opportunities in emerging markets 

- Global demand - focus on emerging export markets
- Australian technological research prowess and export potential
- Production export opportunities and challenges
- Coal Seam Gas (CSG), LNG export demand

Matthew Squire, General Manager for Economics & Planning, QGC, a BG Group Business

Coal Mining Industry in India, and Technology requirements for its rapid growth

- Update on regional coal production industry
- Global warming and emissions control perspective
- Technological initiatives
- Demand for Australian coal resources
- Investment update 

Mr. R. Mohan Das, Director (P & IR) Coal India Limited
Tahair Mahmood, Regional Business Development Manager (South Pakistan), Austrade

Harnessing the potential of clean coal technology

- What do we mean by clean coal technology
- Underground Coal Gasification as a Clean Coal Technology
- Australia - at the forefront of UCG technology development
- Cougar Energy's UCG project development plans
- Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) and Coal Seam Gas (CSG) interaction
- UCG and carbon dioxide emissions

Professor Michael Hood, CEO, CRC Mining,
John Henderson, General Manager - Projects, Cougar Energy

Exploration initiatives and project updates

- Opportunities in exploration in Coal and Metals
- Government support initiatives
- Latest Geophysics data and surveys
- Coal Seam Gas (CSG) projects update
- Readiness for future global demand

Sam Taubert, Exploration Supervisor, Bow Energy
Phil Ferenczi, Regional Geologist, QLD Mines and Energy, Department of Employment, Economic Development & Innovation, DEEDI

 Insights into the Mine of the Future

 - Mine automation
 - Better design for more efficiency
 - Eco-sustainability built into design

 Dr Dennis Franklin, Director, Natural Resources Center of Excellence    

Session 4 - Financial Management Considerations

Evaluating debt financing options in times of industry growth

- Building secure and lasting banking relationships 
- Foreign banking interest
- Asian financing and equity stakes
- Interest rates and variable long term options

Mark Couchman, Associate Director, Natural Resources, ANZ Bank, Queensland

Panel Discussion: Building a sustainable future in mining

A high profile panel of senior executives will discuss and debate ways to work towards a sustainable future in mining. The floor will then be opened to the delegates for questions.

Chair: Peter Van Iersel, Director, Mining Technology Innovation Centre, Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research

Panelists:Cr Col Meng, Mayor, Mackay Regional Council
Alex Hathorn, Vice President, Technical Services and continous Improvement, Peabody Energy
Allan Ruming, MD, Group Engineering & Deputy Chair, MAIN
Mark Paddenburg, Manager, Invest Queensland, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation