Terminal Overview
Through its wholly owned entities, DBI holds a 100% interest in the 99-year lease (comprising an initial 50-year term with a 49-year extension option) of the Dalrymple Bay Terminal (DBT) — the world’s largest export metallurgical coal facility.
DBT is a multi-user export terminal located at the Port of Hay Point, approximately 38 kilometres south of Mackay and 900 kilometres north of Brisbane. Constructed by the Queensland Government, DBT commenced operations in 1983 and has operated continuously since. Over time, the terminal has undergone seven expansion phases, increasing capacity from its original 14.55 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) to the current integrated supply chain capacity of 84.2Mtpa to support growing export volumes from the central Bowen Basin. Today, DBT services a diversified portfolio of leading global mining companies and highly experienced coal producers and the terminal is fully contracted through to 2028.
DBT provides critical infrastructure for mines across the Bowen Basin — a 60,000 square kilometre region in central Queensland and the world’s largest metallurgical coal export province. The terminal facilitates the reliable export of metallurgical (met) coal used in steel production, supplying steel producers across key international markets. On average, DBT represents the lowest-cost multi-user export pathway for mines located in the central Bowen Basin.
Steel is the world’s second-largest commodity market and plays an essential role across construction, infrastructure, transport, manufacturing and consumer goods due to its strength, versatility and cost-effectiveness. Coal exported through DBT is supplied to more than 20 countries, with core markets including China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and India.
Supply Chain
The terminal receives, stores and is an important export gateway for metallurgical and thermal coal extracted from mines in the central Bowen Basin. The terminal is a critical link in the global steelmaking supply chain.
Coal is extracted from either an open cut or underground mine by mining companies and is then processed before being stockpiled at or near the mine.
From the stockpile, the coal is loaded onto coal trains and taken to DBT. The coal trains are operated by one of three operators, all of which operate on Aurizon Network’s electrified rail network. Each train carries approximately 10,000 metric tonnes of coal.
When the train reaches the terminal, it passes through one of three rail unloading stations, where the coal is unloaded from the open bottom of the train onto conveyors. From here the coal is transferred to the DBT stockyard.
In the stockyard different types of coal are stacked into distinct stockpiles. Once the cargo is fully assembled, the coal is then transferred via conveyor from the stockyard to shiploaders 3.8 kilometres offshore. The shiploaders load the coal onto customer vessels, which transport the coal to various ports around the world.
The legal, operational and regulatory framework relating to DBI’s ownership of DBT reflects a broad set of stakeholder relationships.
Operator
Through its wholly owned entities, DBI has held a 100% interest in the 99-year lease (comprising a 50-year lease with a 49-year option) of DBT, from the State government since 2001, at which time the operations and maintenance of the terminal were contracted to Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal Pty Ltd (DBCT P/L, the Operator).
DBCT P/L is owned by a majority of the terminal’s customers (by contracted tonnage), ensuring a strong alignment of interests and incentive to ensure the facility continues to be efficiently operated and well maintained.
This arrangement also allows for 100% of operating and maintenance costs incurred at DBT to be passed through to the customers of the terminal. This operating and recharging structure is supported by the QCA.
Click here to access DBCT P/L’s website