Brisbane-based coal company Vitrinite has secured approval from the Queensland government for its Vulcan South project, paving the way for an additional 1.95 million tonnes per year (mt/y) of export metallurgical coal from the Bowen Basin.
Project Details:
- Vulcan South sits adjacent to Vitrinite’s existing Vulcan mine, effectively doubling their combined production capacity to 3.9 mt/y.
- The project received a boost from Queensland’s streamlined approval process for smaller-scale mines (<2.0 mt/y), facilitating a quicker six-month approval timeframe.
- Mining operations are expected to yield 13.5 mt of run-of-mine coal over nine years, utilizing three open-cut pits.
- Vitrinite implemented footprint reductions to minimize impact on local wildlife habitat, shrinking the overall area from 1,756 hectares to 1,281 hectares.
Beyond Vulcan South:
- This approval follows Vitrinite’s July 2023 green light for Vulcan mine upgrades, including a coal handling and preparation plant, train loading facility, and expanded open-cut pit.
- Vitrinite holds additional project opportunities across Queensland, including tenements in the Karin Basin and the Rolleston South thermal coal project.
- The Karin project, partnered with Itochu, targets high-fluidity coking coal and aims to leverage established export infrastructure near TerraCom and Glencore operations.
- Vitrinite’s Jupiter project, acquired in 2018, borders established BMA mines and holds potential for hard coking coal production.
Company Background:
- Vitrinite, co-founded by Ryan Welker and Nicholas Williams, has emerged as a key player in Queensland’s coal landscape.
- This latest approval solidifies their expansion plans and demonstrates efficient utilization of the state’s streamlined approval process for smaller mines.
