A proposal to extend the life of the Ensham coal mine, 35 km east of Emerald, by about nine years to 2045 has reached a milestone in the approvals process.

Public comment is now open on the Thungela project’s referral under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

Initial mine plans forecast a production rate of up to about 6.5Mtpa ROM coal for the Ensham Life of Mine Extension 2 project.

It would involve an extension of underground mining areas to the south and west of existing operations and the development of supporting infrastructure.

Documents supporting the extension application show it would require an upgrade to the mine’s coal handling plant to include coal washing and rejects dewatering modules.

If approved, the extension would continue the bord and pillar mining methods used at Ensham, with the mining occurring at an approximate depth of 120 to 210m.

A new portal and drift would be constructed, and a small box cut may be required to facilitate safe access to the underground. Installation of gas drainage flares and ventilation points would be required within all new underground mining areas, along with associated surface infrastructure, including tracks, pads, overhead electrical transmission lines and pipelines.

Underground extraction of coal under the extension project is estimated to commence from 2032, with underground mining operations to commence in the same year.

The project would extend the productive life of the Ensham mine to 2045 with five additional years for final rehabilitation.

‘The extension of operations will provide economic and social benefits to the region by extending the supply of jobs to the local workforce until 2050, supporting the local economy through the purchase of goods and services, and providing training and support to workers,’ Thungela said in the project documents.

‘Additionally, the project would provide economic benefits to Queensland more broadly through the payment of royalties and taxes.’