Australia's coal exports set to rise as south-east Asia demand surges

A new International Energy Agency report predicts southeast Asian coal demand is set to triple in the next 25 years, bucking a global trend and giving Australia’s coal exporters a sorely needed boost, according to the Australian Financial Review.

The forecast surge in demand for energy coal – also known as thermal coal and Australia's third-biggest export – in southeast Asia comes as China's demand is thought by some analysts to have peaked and India focuses on renewables and domestic coal production.

BHP Billiton ‘looking more closely at M&A’

The growing number of mining assets on the market may tempt BHP Billiton into an opportunistic purchase, with large shareholders in the mining giant saying the company is increasingly interested in merger and acquisition opportunities, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

While not his priority, BHP CEO Andrew Mackenzie has stated in recent months that the company was looking at potential acquisition opportunities and would be most tempted by copper or conventional oil opportunities.

Treasurer meets Palmer over Queensland Nickel refinery

Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt has become the second senior Queensland government member to meet with Clive Palmer to discuss his Queensland Nickel refinery, but he has refused to say whether there was a request for help, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

But Pitt did confirm that no decisions regarding assisting the Townsville refinery had been made.