News Brief: English
Summary
South Korea has officially joined the Power Past Coal Alliance at COP30, committing to phase out unabated thermal coal power. As a major customer of Australian thermal coal, this decision signals significant long-term risks for Australia’s fossil fuel export economy and serves as a wake-up call for climate action.
Key Points
- South Korea’s Commitment: Joined the Power Past Coal Alliance, pledging to phase out its 61 coal-fired power plants by 2040.
- Impact on Australia: South Korea is Australia’s third-largest thermal coal customer, importing ~15 million tonnes annually (worth ~$2.3B). This export market faces a steep decline.
- Broader Implications: The move pressures other coal-dependent exporters like Indonesia and may reduce South Korean financing for coal plants in Southeast Asia.
- Analyst Warnings: Experts state Australia’s strategy of relying on fossil fuel exports is “risky,” with Treasury modeling predicting a 50% drop in coal/gas export value within five years.
- Industry Response: The Minerals Council of Australia suggests carbon capture technology could allow continued coal use, but climate advocates urge Australia to transition to a clean energy superpower.
新闻简报：中文
总结
韩国在COP30气候大会上正式加入”退煤联盟”，承诺逐步淘汰未减排的燃煤发电。作为澳大利亚动力煤的主要客户之一，韩国的这一决定预示着澳大利亚化石燃料出口经济将面临重大的长期风险，并对澳大利亚的气候行动敲响了警钟。
关键点
- 韩国的承诺： 加入”退煤联盟”，承诺到2040年逐步淘汰其61座燃煤电厂。
- 对澳大利亚的影响： 韩国是澳大利亚第三大动力煤客户，年进口量约1500万吨（价值约23亿澳元）。该出口市场面临急剧萎缩。
- 更广泛的影响： 此举给其他依赖煤炭出口的国家（如印度尼西亚）带来压力，并可能减少韩国对东南亚燃煤电厂的融资和技术支持。
- 分析师的警告： 专家指出，澳大利亚依赖化石燃料出口的中长期战略是”高风险的”。澳国库部模型预测，未来五年内煤炭和天然气出口价值将下降约50%。
- 行业回应： 澳大利亚矿产委员会认为，碳捕获技术可能为继续使用煤炭留有余地。但气候倡导者敦促澳大利亚转型为清洁能源超级大国。
Original Article Link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-18/south-korea-coal-plant-closure-warning-on-australian-exports/106021660