Peabody’s North Goonyella Mine renamed Centurion Coal Mine

A Bowen Basin mine that was forced to halt operations five years ago after an underground fire broke out will take on a new name as its operator forges ahead with resumption plans.

Mining giant Peabody has changed the name of North Goonyella mine to Centurion Coal Mine as the operation pushes ahead with its resumption.

A Bowen Basin mine that was forced to halt operations five years ago after an underground fire broke out will take on a new name as its operator forges ahead with resumption plans.

From today Peabody’s North Goonyella Mine will be known as Centurion Coal Mine.

The operation had been in a state of limbo since September 2018 after a spontaneous underground blaze that resulted in thick black smoke billowing from the mine, about 65km north of Moranbah and 160km west of Mackay.

But in November 2023 it was announced the company had achieved a significant milestone in successfully re-entering Zone B, there all the mining takes place, with longwall operations expected to begin in 2026.

Mining giant Peabody has changed the name of North Goonyella mine to Centurion Coal Mine as the operation pushes ahead with its resumption.

“Peabody is excited to be making strong progress towards resuming production at this mine under a new name that signifies our team’s strength of purpose and commitment to mining excellence,” Peabody’s Australian Operations president Jamie Frankcombe said.

“We wanted to choose a strong name that could unite our team and create a collective force that will operate with precision, ensure safety and set a new standard for mining excellence.

Smoke billows from the mine at North Goonyella from a fire that started in September 2018.

“With the production of development coal from Centurion targeted for early 2024 and longwall production in 2026, the resumption of mining will provide a significant boost to the local and state economy, creating hundreds of jobs and generating export income and royalties for Queenslanders.”

Peabody recently announced the US$489m redevelopment of Centurion was completely funded and the company’s recent agreement to acquire the adjacent Wards Well deposit was expected to provide access to a further 120m product tons of high-quality coal, extending the life of the combined mining complex by 20 years, Mr Frankcombe said.

Mining giant Peabody has changed the name of North Goonyella mine to Centurion Coal Mine as the operation pushes ahead with its resumption.

“Centurion coal has some of the strongest coking characteristics in the world, making it the most efficient feedstock to create the steel needed to build homes, hospitals and other foundational infrastructure across the world for decades to come,” he said.

Mr Frankcombe thanked the hardworking Centurion team for their efforts to date and said they were already living the Centurion ethos.

“The icon itself has the Centurion helmet as its base but cleverly features design elements of special significance to underground miners – incorporating the iconic cap lamp, the teeth of the mechanical shearer and the sun rise signifying a new start for the mining operation.”

Originally published as Peabody’s North Goonyella Mine renamed Centurion Coal Mine