Muswellbrook Coal Mine’s bid to extend coal haulage operations to March

Australia’s oldest open cut mine, set to close in two months, could get three more months in operation to address tonnes of stockpiled coal.

An Upper Hunter mine set to close in two months could now extend its operations into the new year following delays from “unseasonal weather” and labour shortages.

Muswellbrook Coal Mine had a deadline to completely shutdown operations by December 31, but is now seeking an extension of time for coal handling and storage purposes only, until the end of March, 2023.

Muswellbrook Shire Council recently received an application from Muswellbrook Coal Company (MCC) to extend its coal haulage operations, with an estimated 110,000 tonnes of coal still expected to be stockpiled at the site by the end of the year.

Muswellbrook Coal Mine has a stockpile of coal that will still exist on its December deadline for closure. Istock.

MCC applied to modify the consent approval of its Muscle Creek Rd site after identifying a number of delays with its coal operations.

These included unseasonal weather, a higher than average local and regional rainfall and associated flooding events along the rail network, which resulted in disruptions.

Equipment and labour shortages were also cited for additional coal on the site, as well as difficulties sourcing haulage contractors which resulted in reduced coal haulage volumes.

“Due to these unforeseen circumstances the site is accommodating more stockpiled coal than anticipated,” a report said.

“MCC has been unable to facilitate coal transportation at expected capacities because of weather and contractor issues.”

As per current approval, mining operations and coal processing will be completed by the December deadline, the extension of time is so the company can “lawfully” transport the coal offsite.

“There will be no changes to approved mining operations,” the report continued.

“The proposed extension to coal storage, handling and transport will not affect the existing decommissioning and rehabilitation scheduled for the site.”

The proposed extension to coal storage, handling and transport is not said to affect the existing decommissioning and rehabilitation scheduled for the site. Istock.

The report states coal haulage operations will continue to be undertaken up to 24 hours a day, seven days per week, if approved, and it is anticipated that all coal would be hauled from the site by the end of the March date.

“Haulage capacity is expected to increase during this time,” it said.

“The current haulage fleet comprises four trucks, each completing 10 round trips per day. If the fleet is to increase as expected, this will increase to eight trucks, each completing 10 round trips per day.

“This modification does not require any change to mining footprint or area and is considered to be substantially the same development as that originally approved.”

The extension proposal is currently on exhibition for feedback until November 3.

It comes as big plans are in motion to turn Australia’s oldest open cut mine into a Clean Energy and Industrial Precinct in the future.

Late last year the owner of the soon-to-close mine - the Australian arm of Japanese company Idemitsu - unveiled a masterplan for the Muswellbrook site to be converted into a a major renewables hub to deliver potential jobs and economic opportunities in the region.

There’s a bid for extension of coal operations at Muswellbrook Coal Mine.

The project and new precinct would incorporate green hydrogen, solar, battery energy storage systems and pumped hydro, in a bid to reduce Idemitsu’s carbon emissions by four million tonnes by 2030.

In September, there was a $9.45 million funding agreement with the NSW Government’s Energy Corporation of NSW to help to progress the proposed Muswellbrook Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHES) project set for the site.

Muswellbrook Coal Mine has been operating since 1907 as an underground mine, before open cut operations commenced in 1944.

While underground operations ceased in the late 1990s, open cut operations at MCC had extension approvals and modifications on several occasions, the latest granted in 2016 to allow mining in an area known as the “Continuation Project” and to extend the life of the mining operations to 2022.