The Meandu Mine is an open-cut thermal coal operation located about 25km south-east of Kingaroy and adjacent to the Tarong and Tarong North power stations. The mine is owned by the Queensland Government-owned energy company Stanwell Corporation and supplies coal exclusively to the nearby power stations for electricity generation.

Development of the mine began in 1978 following the decision to construct Tarong Power Station, with regular coal deliveries commencing in 1984. Mining is carried out using conventional surface methods including drilling, blasting, dragline operations and truck-and-shovel extraction from several shallow coal seams within the Tarong Basin.

The operation has multiple working pits and is capable of supplying up to 7 million tonnes of thermal coal per year, providing a secure fuel source for the Tarong power stations, which generate a significant portion of Queensland’s electricity.

Meandu has undergone several life-extension programs to maintain coal supply to the power stations, with current reserves expected to support operations until at least the late 2030s. Progressive rehabilitation of mined land has also been undertaken as part of the mine’s long-term environmental management program.