BHP Group Limited (BHP) has submitted an application to the New South Wales (NSW) government to extend the mining approval for its Mount Arthur open-cut coal mine until June 2030. This extension is a key step in BHP’s plan to close the mine by that date.
Planned Closure and Extension Request:
- BHP aims to cease mining operations at Mount Arthur entirely by June 2030.
- To achieve this goal, they require an extension of their current mining approval, which expires in June 2026.
- The application for this extension was submitted to the NSW government.
- The public will have a chance to review the application details in November 2023.
- A decision on the extension is expected during the fiscal year ending June 2024 (FY2024).
Mount Arthur Coal Mine:
- Located in the Hunter Valley region of NSW, Australia.
- Large-scale export-oriented thermal coal mine.
- Wholly owned and operated by BHP.
- Produced 14.172 million tonnes of thermal coal in FY2023 (ending June 2023).
Production Forecast and Wind-Down:
- BHP anticipates thermal coal production at Mount Arthur to be between 13 million and 15 million tonnes in FY2024.
- They currently expect production to be closer to the upper limit of that range.
- BHP plans to gradually reduce coal production at Mount Arthur until the mine reaches depletion and closure in 2030.
Post-Closure Plans:
- BHP intends to repurpose the empty land at the mine site into “sustainable land” after closure.
- The company will hold regular meetings with local communities to discuss and develop these land reuse plans.
Key Takeaways:
BHP’s application to extend the Mount Arthur mining approval signifies their commitment to a responsible closure of the mine by 2030. The planned staged wind-down of production and focus on sustainable land reuse reflect BHP’s efforts to minimize disruption and leave a positive legacy for the local community. Public input and ongoing engagement with stakeholders will be crucial as BHP finalizes its post-closure plans.
Source: TheCoalTrader, AI generated
