Peabody’s $662m coal mine expansion fast-tracked to secure 500 Qld jobs

Queensland’s struggling coal industry has received a crucial lifeline as the government expedites approval for Peabody’s $662m mine expansion promising decades of production.

Peabody’s Centurion coal mine near Moranbah

Queensland’s struggling coal mining industry will receive a major boost as the government fast-tracks a proposed $662m extension of Peabody’s Centurion Mine.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the state government will on Monday declare the northern extension of Peabody’s Centurion Mine – near Moranbah in the Bowen Basin – a co-ordinated project.

The declaration will fast-track approvals through a co-ordinated, whole-of-government streamlined assessment process.

Peabody’s proposal would be one of the most significant mining investments in a decade and comes as the resources sector continues to lobby the state government for changes to coal royalty tiers it argues are hampering investment and risking jobs.

Peabody has advocated to develop to the north of the existing mining area to extend the life of its operations by more than 25 years and secure more than 500 Central Queensland mining jobs.

The full Centurion Mine is forecast to export hard coking coal to steelmaking customers through to 2055.

It is expected to produce up to 7.1 million tonnes of run-of-mine coal and extract up to 10 petajoules of coal seam gas.

Extracting coal seam gas is aimed at managing underground methane levels while powering the mine and boosting the state’s gas supply.

Queensland Co-ordinator-General Gerard Coggan said the declaration would ensure a comprehensive assessment of the project’s environmental, social and economic effect.

Infrastructure and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie

Infrastructure and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie said his decision to declare it a co-ordinated project proved demand to invest in the state’s coal industry remained strong.

“We are partnering with industry to unlock more investment and jobs with faster approvals and investment certainty,” he said.

“This co-ordinated project declaration of Peabody’s Centurion Mine extension demonstrates Queensland’s resources industry is well and truly open for business under the Crisafulli government.”

Peabody president and CEO Jim Grech said the declaration of the northern expansion added to the planned February 2026 start-up of longwall production in Centurion’s southern district.

“Steelmaking coal remains essential for producing the steel that underpins modern life, from homes and bridges to hospitals and renewable energy infrastructure,” he said.

“Centurion is also advancing our safety and sustainability commitments by extracting coal seam gas ahead of mining to improve safety and cut emissions, reusing the gas to power the operations and converting surplus into LNG to boost regional supply.”

Isaac Regional Council Mayor Kelly Vea Vea said the development should benefit her community.

Isaac mayor Kelly Vea Vea said any development will need to consider the communities around it.

“We’re really dealing with the impacts of these projects for decades, long after the news cycle has moved on,” she said.

“For us, it’ll be important that Peabody works with our council and works with our community to ensure they have social license.

“This company has been operating in our region for quite some time.

“This will be a great touch point to really test their social license when it comes to housing, community investment, and liveability.”

Queensland Conservation Council campaigner Charlie Cox argued the government was pandering to coal and gas companies.

“Queenslanders are already living with more intense heat, cyclones, flooding and habitat loss,” she said.

“The Centurion North project would exacerbate climate change by releasing huge amounts of pollution here and overseas.”

The mining industry has sought to put pressure on Premier David Crisafulli to break an election promise and tinker with coal royalties.

In September BHP and Anglo American Australia cut almost 1000 jobs. It prompted Coal Australia chief executive officer Stuart Bocking to warn of job and investment losses as a result of the royalties’ regime.

A petition calling for it to be reviewed has 2254 signatures.

Originally published as Peabody’s $662m coal mine expansion fast-tracked to secure 500 Qld jobs