Whitehaven Coal is progressing the paperwork for an extension project at its Blackwater operation that would give it access to another 200Mt of coal and take mining out until 2055.
The Blackwater North Extension Project’s referral for approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act is open for public comment until May 20.
The project would involve extending open-cut operations within the northern section of the existing Blackwater mine from about 2030, according to the documentation.
To be mined at a rate of up to 19Mtpa, the project is expected to produce predominantly steel-making coal as well as some high-energy thermal coal (about 15 per cent).
The Blackwater open-cut coal mine, about 73km south-east of Emerald, has been operating since 1967 and employs about 2000 people .
Whitehaven completed its acquisition of the Blackwater and Daunia metallurgical coal mines from BMA in early April 2024.
It has since sold a 20 per cent stake in the Blackwater operation to Nippon Steel Corporation and 10 per cent to JFE Steel Corporation for about $1.7 billion.
