Land Court stumbling block for Ensham extension

A Land Court of Queensland order has thrown up a hurdle for a planned extension project to take underground mining at Ensham, 40km east of Emerald, out until 2037. Land Court President Peta Stilgoe has recommended against Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dale Last approving the required mining lease unless the coal mine owners show 'real and significant progress' towards mitigating their greenhouse gas emissions. Ensham owner Sungela acknowledged the Land Court's recommendation. "We welcome the opportunity to engage with the minister to discuss our progress and management plans in addressing our GHG emissions," a spokesman said. A spokesman for Mr Last said today the minister was carefully considering the Land Court’s recommendation and was unable to provide further comment at this time. The mining lease application was referred to the Land Court after attracting four objections. One was withdrawn, and the remaining three objectors did not elect to be active in the court proceedings or provide evidence. In her judgement, President Stilgoe noted; "It must be frustrating for miners to be forced into a mining objection hearing before the court and then find that the objectors have 'run dead' by not filing any material. Even so, the court is required to exercise its discretion and needs evidence to do so." The negative final recommendation came despite President Stilgoe finding that the mining lease application stacked up economically as well as environmentally regarding impacts to local flora, fauna and water. An environmental authority for the extension project, including the MLA at the centre of the court case, has already been granted. But President Stilgoe noted the EA required the applicants to develop a greenhouse gas emissions reduction management plan. No such plan had been provided to the court, she said. "The applicants say that they are taking steps 'in a proactive manner' to reduce its GHG emissions. One of the measures it will take is flaring the CH4 gas, converting it to CO2 which reduces the CO2-e content," the judgment released last week stated. "I emphasised the word 'will' because the applicants have been making that a part of their mitigation strategy since the first GHG analysis and yet I can find no evidence that they have actually progressed that strategy. Similarly, I have no evidence that the applicants have prioritised a suite of energy efficiencies." She said there was no evidence the operators investigated decarbonisation pathways or put the findings of those investigations into operation. Related: Thungela sees lift in Ensham coal production Without the MLA or realisation of the extension project, the Land Court heard that mining activities at the Ensham site were projected to cease by 2028. The Sungela Holdings consortium - with Thungela Resources as a majority shareholder - acquired an 85 per cent interest in the Ensham business from Idemitsu Kosan last year. Thungela has recently moved to take its ownership of the Ensham business to 100 per cent.

Land Court stumbling block for Ensham extension

Industry Queensland

Related News

Quick fire – industry news briefs

Board takes the blame for Callide turmoil

Production hurdles hit South32 Cannington

Get access to breaking mining news, now.