英語学習

英語ニュース教材：Third Queensland coal miner cuts workers, closes underground site（Intermediate レベル）

 

Contents

🎧 Audio

📖 Script

In Queensland, Australia, a third coal mining company has announced that it will reduce its workforce and close one of its underground mines. This decision is due to increasing financial pressures. The company cites rising operational costs and higher state government royalties as the main reasons for this move. These challenges are not unique to this company; they reflect broader issues affecting the coal mining industry in the region.

The closure will have significant effects on the local community. Many employees and their families will be impacted by the job cuts, leading to economic uncertainty. This situation highlights the vulnerability of communities that rely heavily on a single industry for employment. The mining sector has historically been a major employer in Queensland, but changes in the global economy and government policies are forcing companies to adapt.

State government royalties have been a contentious issue. These royalties are payments that mining companies must make to the government for the right to extract natural resources. Recently, the state government increased these royalties, adding financial strain to mining operations. While the government argues that these royalties are necessary for public services, mining companies claim they make it difficult to remain profitable.

The future of the coal industry in Queensland remains uncertain. As the world shifts towards renewable energy sources, the demand for coal is decreasing. This transition poses challenges for regions dependent on coal mining, necessitating investment in new industries and job training to ensure economic stability.

📝 Vocabulary

  • workforce: the group of people who work for a company or organization
    例文: “The company plans to increase its workforce next year.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • skilled workforce
    • diverse workforce
    • workforce reduction
    労働力
  • operational: related to the operation or functioning of a business
    例文: “Operational costs have been rising steadily.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • operational cost
    • operational efficiency
    • operational plan
    運営上の
  • royalties: payments made to the owner of a resource for the right to use it
    例文: “The artist receives royalties for every album sold.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • pay royalties
    • earn royalties
    • government royalties
    使用料
  • vulnerable: open to harm or damage
    例文: “The economy is vulnerable to changes in the global market.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • vulnerable position
    • vulnerable groups
    • economically vulnerable
    脆弱な
  • transition: the process of changing from one state to another
    例文: “The transition from coal to renewable energy is challenging.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • smooth transition
    • transition period
    • energy transition
    移行

✏️ Grammar Point

Present Simple for General Facts – “The closure will have significant effects on the local community.”

文法の日本語補足を見る
未来の状況に対する一般的な事実を示すために現在形が使われています。

💡 使用場面

この構造は、未来の事実や確実な出来事について話すときに使われます。例えば、プロジェクトの将来の影響を説明する際に使用されます。

📝 使用例文

“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.’”

❓ Listening Questions

  1. True/False: The company plans to expand its workforce due to increased demand.
  2. MCQ: What is one reason for the closure of the mine?
    a) Decreased global coal demand
    b) Rising operational costs
    c) Lack of skilled workers
    d) Environmental regulations
  3. MCQ: What is a challenge mentioned for coal mining regions?
    a) Increasing local population
    b) Dependence on a single industry
    c) Limited government support
    d) Surplus of renewable energy resources
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
  1. False
  2. b) Rising operational costs
  3. b) Dependence on a single industry

📚 Reading Questions

  1. What are the two main reasons the company is closing its mine?
  2. Why might communities dependent on coal mining face challenges?
  3. What does the word “royalties” mean in this context?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
  1. Rising operational costs and higher state government royalties
  2. Because they rely heavily on a single industry for employment, which makes them economically vulnerable.
  3. Payments made to the owner of a resource for the right to use it

🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説

クイーンズランドでは、第三の炭鉱会社が労働者の削減と鉱山の閉鎖を発表しました。これは、運営コストの増加と州政府の使用料の影響によるものです。地域社会に大きな影響を及ぼし、雇用の不安定化を招く可能性があります。石炭から再生可能エネルギーへの移行が進む中、依存している地域は新産業への投資と職業訓練が求められています。日本においても、エネルギー転換が進む中で、同様の課題が浮上する可能性があります。

Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-19/cook-colliery-coal-mine-to-close-half-of-operation/105792906

RELATED POST