Abstract
The export of Hunter Valley coal and the Port of Newcastle are dependent, one upon the other. Coal is the lifeblood of the port. The 1990s have seen coal export infrastructure mature and strengthen as the result of a massive restructuring so that Port of Newcastle, in combination with the facilities of Port Waratah Coal Services, PWCS, now manages the largest capacity coal loading operation in the world. This requires an unique relationship ‘The Hunter Valley Coal Chain’ which links all the important elements the Port of Newcastle, Port Waratah Coal Services, the coal transportation services and the Hunter coal mines.
