Coal remains one of the state’s economic mainstays despite the low coal price and negative publicity by environmental groups, Queensland Resources Council CEO Michael Roche said.

“With coal accounting for nearly 40% of Queensland’s exports in 2014-15, now is the right time for Queenslanders to take full advantage of an innovative and informative campaign launched this week by the nation’s coal industry,” he said.

Coal remains a mainstay of the Queensland economy, with one in ten Queensland jobs reliant on the coal industry, Roche said.

Roche said that some key facts about coal for Queenslanders are that 75% of the state’s electricity is produced from coal and its high quality coking coal is an essential ingredient in making steel.

Every 1 megawatt wind turbine needs 220 tonnes of coking coal, he said.