Approvals bid advances for Caval Ridge extension

An extension project that could push the life of BHP Mitsubishi Alliance's Caval Ridge mine operations out until the 2050s is advancing through the approvals process. The EPBC Referral application to extend Horse Pit is expected to proceed to public notification this month for federal environmental approval of the project. And the Queensland Department of Environment and Science has partially approved an Environmental Authority (EA) amendment application to expand Horse Pit. "This application will support continued operations at the existing Caval Ridge metallurgical coal mine in Central Queensland. The approval process is ongoing," a BMA spokesman said. The Caval Ridge open-cut mine – about 5km south-west of Moranbah – came online in 2014. The extension proposal would extend Horse Pit from about 2025 to allow Caval Ridge to continue to produce coal at a rate of about 15Mtpa – supporting ongoing employment for about 1500 workers. Documentation for the extension shows it would involve capital investments averaging about $100 million per annum over the life of the mine for ongoing equipment, site infrastructure and other requirements. The application was made prior to the Queensland Government’s significant increase in coal royalty rates. BHP has stated that it will not be investing in any further growth in Queensland as a result of that move, however it will sustain and optimise existing operations. The Queensland Department of Environment and Science has approved some, but not all, of the EA amendments BMA requested for the Horse Pit extension. A department spokeswoman said the application was subject to a rigorous environmental assessment including public notification. "Three submissions were received from the public and considered in our decision-making," the spokewoman stated. "We imposed strict conditions to address potential dust impacts, reduce impacts on threatened species and their habitat, require progressive rehabilitation and real-time air quality monitoring with online public reporting. "The EA conditions address concerns raised in the submissions about the final void size, impacts to threatened species and their habitat and impacts to surface water and groundwater." The DES spokesperson also noted that BMA had committed to reducing emissions consistent with the Queensland Government's climate targets. The amendment decision does not increase approved extraction rate or final void size from when the mine was originally approved by the Coordinator-General in 2010.

Approvals bid advances for Caval Ridge extension

Industry Queensland

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