Two Greenpeace activists have been arrested by specialist police on a coal ship outside the Port of Newcastle, following a more than seven-hour protest during Rising Tide’s People’s Blockade yesterday (30 November).
On Sunday morning, three activists safely climbed and suspended from coal ship Yangze 16, halting its operations and preventing its 12.15pm AEDT arrival into the Port of Newcastle.
A banner that read ‘PHASE OUT COAL AND GAS’ was held by two activists on the side of the ship. The two people were arrested around 3.30pm following police landing on the deck of the ship via helicopter around 1.45pm.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific Head of Climate and Energy Joe Rafalowicz says as the world’s third largest fossil fuel explorer, Australia plays an outsized role in the climate crisis.
“Peaceful protest to call on the Albanese Government to set a timeline to phase out coal and gas, and stop approving new fossil fuel projects, is legitimate and valuable,” Rafalowicz says.
Australia’s economy relies on coal as a source of affordable, reliable electricity, as reported by the Minerals Council of Australia. Coal supplied around 62.6% of electricity to the National Electricity Market in 2022-23, while gas supplied 4.5%, hydro 8.3% and other renewable energy 24.1%.
In 2023-24, Australia exported $91.4 billion worth of coal.
Coal is used to produce electricity, iron and steel, cement, alumina, paper and chemicals and is also used as a component in thousands of everyday products, including soap, aspirins, solvents, dyes, plastics, and carbon fibres.
More than 220 tonnes of coal is required to build a wind turbine.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Greenpeace Australia
