Ensham Mine near Emerald has mine life extension approved

A thermal coal mine in Central Queensland will be allowed to operate for almost a decade more with a “life of mine” extension given the tick of approval.

Ensham Mine.

A major Central Queensland coal mine will be able to operate for nearly another decade after an expansion plan was given the green light by the Federal Government.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek signed off on the approval for Bligh Coal Limited, Idemitsu Australia Resources Limited and Bowen (Investments) Limited’s Ensham Mine, which mines thermal coal near Emerald, to continue operations for a further nine years.

The application was first lodged with the Federal Government under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in June 2020.

The approval also included the ability for the site to be decommissioned and for the land to be rehabilitated at the end of its life.

Under the mine life extension, the Ensham Mine will now operate until about 2037.

The mine will continue to produce at its current rate of up to 4.5 million tonnes per annum.

The extension of the mine’s underground operation will see the continued use of existing mine infrastructure which means there will be no new surface construction or disturbance.

The existing mine infrastructure that would be used to continue operations include the Coal Handling Plant (CHP) which consists of a truck dump station, crushing and screening plant, conveyors, stackers, reclaim and loadout systems.

The CHP would also include waste rock removal from the Run of Mine coal.

An upgrade to the current CHP was being investigated at the time of the initial application.

A spokesman for Idemitsu Australia said the expansion would support the mine’s 600 strong workforce for years to come.

“Ensham has been a long term contributor to the Central Highlands Region and Emerald community by providing employment and local business opportunities, which will continue for the life of the mine,” the spokesman said.

“Because it is an extension project it provides for the continuity of the existing workforce.”

According to the referral document once the mine reaches the end of its life, the surface infrastructure would be rehabilitated by 2043.

After the rehabilitation works are complete there will be a 10-year monitoring period, which would be followed by a two-year certification period – expected to be completed by 2055.

Originally published as Ensham Mine near Emerald has mine life extension approved