Thanks Chris … for another excellent and timely essay. Other than the diabolical energy situation there is also the sanctimonious over-regulation problem with regard to the environment and indigenous taboos - which are mostly resolved with the enterprise doing the work, going broke! Compare this to China’s numero uno environmental benchmark, ‘a pipe to the nearest river,’ as Doomberg so succinctly put it.
Surely, there’s a pathway in between… if only we had some serious leadership on either side.
PS. I’m happy to chip in for a Doomberg subscription for Chris Bowen & Dan Tehan.
You're that optimistic Bowen and Tehan can read? Which brings us to the issue of the state of our State and Federal pollies: by a large majority, nitwit wannabes, gravy-trainers and careerists instead of intellectually empowered conviction leaders infest the Coalition and Labor. Unless Canavan and Hastie disembark their unseaworthy ships of state and create a new party with commonsense as a main foundational pillar, our future as a river for China's pipes is sealed.
I can’t say I disagree with anything you wrote. But, ultimately it’s up to the voting public to wake up. And, I take solace in another Doomberg doctrine…’when enough pain is felt they will wake up.’ Hopefully, not too late!
In a world of increasing geostrategic competition it is deeply dangerous because the Chinese Communist Party sits at the choke point of the modern economy.
Ah yes Mr Uhlmann... none so blind as those who will not see nor deaf as those who will not hear eh? Another great essay on Western stupidity (or is it greed that has allowed us, like a snake to the charmer's melodic tune, to be mesmerised into thinking buying cheaper from China or doing deals to bring vast consumer dollars to our lobsters and wine is smart?).
Either or both? It doesn't matter as the outcome is the same. We are economic hostages to China. I wrote a comment in the Australian last week the China does not have to fire a single bullet to wage war via economics on the world. Next time perhaps the sensors won't reject my comments as they may realise the obvious correctness. Between you and another request contributor Mike Newman we are getting terrific information and insights. What a pity Labor-Lite-Ley isn't paying attention to Powerlines where great policy platforms abound. Thank you for your efforts... keep writing.
I (and maybe China) am reassured by the involvement of Australian politicians in this strategic imperative to develop rare earths magnets etc. It adds the certainty that huge wads of taxpayer funds will be wasted over the next 20 years and little will change.
How are we to process these minerals let alone mine them when we have such strict laws and rulesand such expensive power?
I talked to a public servant in Transport yesterday. We need an on ramp from our suburb to the Albion Park Bypass south of Wollongong. The hoops they have jump though are monumental. A bunch of bats stopped the most logical place.
It's going to be very difficult to match China when it comes to reducing the cost of energy. At the retail level about 6C per Kw/Hr and what are we at 30C per KwHr?
Melbourne sports the lowest cost of energy in the country likely originating in the brown coal fields of Yallourn that reportedly produces at a cost of 7 to 12 cents per Kw hour.
The following information is provided by DeepSeek: In China estimated Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) for New coal Plants: A$50 - A$90 per MWh (5 to 9C per Kw Hr). Estimated Short-Run Marginal Cost for Existing Plants in China is A$25 - A$50 per MWh (2.5-5C/Kw Hr).
At Yallourn maintenance costs are high, as are Australian wages and its efficiency is lower than that of modern supercritical plants. In the early 2000s, the cost was 3-4c per Kw Hr.
Energy per unit processed is superior with higher grade coal so brown coal is handicapped.
Hydro is cheaper than coal and the Chinese take full advantage of that. China is also making great strides with nuclear.
Building infrastructure in China is a fraction of the cost of doing the same thing in Australia.
The Chinese just want to be left alone to improve the lives of the people and that is what gives the CPC legitimacy. The approval rating for the leadership well and truly trumps Mr D. Trump.
China shares its technology with others but is likely to draw the line with rare earths processing.
Perhaps a technology swap might be arranged. Increasingly, its we in the west who stand to benefit the most from that. Just compare the number of engineers graduating in China versus the USA and Australia. Then go look at what the Chinese build. They can do nuclear submarines in one third of the time at one quarter of the cost. And it wouldn't be a cost plus contract. Their plants are highly automated. Not so in the USA.
Thanks Chris … for another excellent and timely essay. Other than the diabolical energy situation there is also the sanctimonious over-regulation problem with regard to the environment and indigenous taboos - which are mostly resolved with the enterprise doing the work, going broke! Compare this to China’s numero uno environmental benchmark, ‘a pipe to the nearest river,’ as Doomberg so succinctly put it.
Surely, there’s a pathway in between… if only we had some serious leadership on either side.
PS. I’m happy to chip in for a Doomberg subscription for Chris Bowen & Dan Tehan.
You're that optimistic Bowen and Tehan can read? Which brings us to the issue of the state of our State and Federal pollies: by a large majority, nitwit wannabes, gravy-trainers and careerists instead of intellectually empowered conviction leaders infest the Coalition and Labor. Unless Canavan and Hastie disembark their unseaworthy ships of state and create a new party with commonsense as a main foundational pillar, our future as a river for China's pipes is sealed.
I can’t say I disagree with anything you wrote. But, ultimately it’s up to the voting public to wake up. And, I take solace in another Doomberg doctrine…’when enough pain is felt they will wake up.’ Hopefully, not too late!
In a world of increasing geostrategic competition it is deeply dangerous because the Chinese Communist Party sits at the choke point of the modern economy.
Ah yes Mr Uhlmann... none so blind as those who will not see nor deaf as those who will not hear eh? Another great essay on Western stupidity (or is it greed that has allowed us, like a snake to the charmer's melodic tune, to be mesmerised into thinking buying cheaper from China or doing deals to bring vast consumer dollars to our lobsters and wine is smart?).
Either or both? It doesn't matter as the outcome is the same. We are economic hostages to China. I wrote a comment in the Australian last week the China does not have to fire a single bullet to wage war via economics on the world. Next time perhaps the sensors won't reject my comments as they may realise the obvious correctness. Between you and another request contributor Mike Newman we are getting terrific information and insights. What a pity Labor-Lite-Ley isn't paying attention to Powerlines where great policy platforms abound. Thank you for your efforts... keep writing.
👍
I (and maybe China) am reassured by the involvement of Australian politicians in this strategic imperative to develop rare earths magnets etc. It adds the certainty that huge wads of taxpayer funds will be wasted over the next 20 years and little will change.
Wow, Chris. Thank you. You write so well.
How are we to process these minerals let alone mine them when we have such strict laws and rulesand such expensive power?
I talked to a public servant in Transport yesterday. We need an on ramp from our suburb to the Albion Park Bypass south of Wollongong. The hoops they have jump though are monumental. A bunch of bats stopped the most logical place.
This will be interesting to watch.
It's going to be very difficult to match China when it comes to reducing the cost of energy. At the retail level about 6C per Kw/Hr and what are we at 30C per KwHr?
Melbourne sports the lowest cost of energy in the country likely originating in the brown coal fields of Yallourn that reportedly produces at a cost of 7 to 12 cents per Kw hour.
The following information is provided by DeepSeek: In China estimated Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) for New coal Plants: A$50 - A$90 per MWh (5 to 9C per Kw Hr). Estimated Short-Run Marginal Cost for Existing Plants in China is A$25 - A$50 per MWh (2.5-5C/Kw Hr).
At Yallourn maintenance costs are high, as are Australian wages and its efficiency is lower than that of modern supercritical plants. In the early 2000s, the cost was 3-4c per Kw Hr.
Energy per unit processed is superior with higher grade coal so brown coal is handicapped.
Hydro is cheaper than coal and the Chinese take full advantage of that. China is also making great strides with nuclear.
Building infrastructure in China is a fraction of the cost of doing the same thing in Australia.
The Chinese just want to be left alone to improve the lives of the people and that is what gives the CPC legitimacy. The approval rating for the leadership well and truly trumps Mr D. Trump.
China shares its technology with others but is likely to draw the line with rare earths processing.
Perhaps a technology swap might be arranged. Increasingly, its we in the west who stand to benefit the most from that. Just compare the number of engineers graduating in China versus the USA and Australia. Then go look at what the Chinese build. They can do nuclear submarines in one third of the time at one quarter of the cost. And it wouldn't be a cost plus contract. Their plants are highly automated. Not so in the USA.
Like cheap money from the money tree.
Cheap electricity comes from the sky.
Australians politicians in general have little or no brains at all!
Thank God that Trump has seen the "light"
Unfortunately Australia will be left to moonlight!