Bowen Basin coal miner Vitrinite’s Vulcan South project, between Moranbah and Dysart, has won federal environmental approval.
The approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act is subject to conditions, including specific measures to protect koalas, greater gliders and squatter pigeons in the area.
Project documents submitted as part of the approvals process show Vitrinite plans to extract premium hard coking coal from three separate open-cut pits at Vulcan South, with an expected mine life of about seven years
It will extract about 13.5Mt of run-of-mine (ROM) coal at a rate of up to 1.95Mtpa, according to the documents.
The Vulcan South site is adjacent to established mining operations including BMA’s Peak Downs and Saraji mines, and south of Vitrinite’s Vulcan coal mine.
A mine infrastructure area will be established along with a modular coal handling and preparation plant, rail loop and train load-out facility.
The company also flagged plans for a small-scale highwall mining trial program in the north of the site.
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The approval comes hot on the heels of BMA’s Caval Ridge mine Horse Pit extension project and the Lake Vermont coal mine extension project being granted approval under the EPBC Act late last year.
The approval of those Bowen Basin projects and one at Boggabri enraged environmental groups.
“Climate scientists and the International Energy Agency say the world cannot approve new coal and gas projects,” Australian Conservation Foundation climate program manager Gavan McFadzean said at the time.
“The Albanese government keeps trying to walk both sides of the street – supporting clean export and manufacturing initiatives through its Future Made in Australia package while also approving major expansions of coal mines.”
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