Concerns over major coal project climate plan approval
Climate activists have flagged a major coal mine in southwest Queensland has received state government environmental approval despite findings that the project failed to sufficiently detail emissions.
Environmental activists are raising concerns over BHP Mitsubishi Alliance’s proposed Saraji East coal mine expansion in the Bowen Basin, located 170km southwest of Mackay.
Saraji East would be an expansion on the Saraji Mine, which has been in operation since 1972 and produced around 29 million tonnes of metallurgical coal in 2023.
The Queensland government granted environmental approval for the site, but Federal government approval would still be required before the mine expansion could commence.
The approval comes following a state government environmental impact statement (EIS) report finding BHP had failed to adequately explain how it would reduce the project’s climate impacts.
“The proponent’s choice of a broad-brush corporate-level plan fails to sufficiently detail project emissions and abatement measures or demonstrate a hierarchy approach for reducing impacts to the greatest extent practicable,” the EIS report said.
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“It also fails to evaluate the availability of carbon offsets in the market and the source of carbon credits within Queensland, posing risks to the project’s viability as it does not provide certainty that the excess emissions can be offset.”
Saraji East would see up to 11 million tonnes of coal extracted per year and produce approximately 110 million tonnes of product coal over the 20-year production schedule.
According to BHP, the project would expand its production capacity in the Bowen Basin to meet current and future market demands for its coal products.
Lock the Gate Alliance Queensland Coordinator Maggie Mckeown said it was “extraordinary” the proposed coal mine had received environmental approval.
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“Saraji East would be a disaster for Queenslanders,” Mckeown said.
“It would drain and potentially pollute our precious water resources and destroy koala and glider habitat and generate 330 million tonnes of climate pollution.
“The climate impacts would contribute to the worsening droughts, extreme heat, fires, and storms that our communities across Queensland are already grappling with.”
Research from The Australia Institute estimates 356 million tonnes of lifetime emissions would be produced at the Saraji East site, while data from Carbon Majors, ranks BHP as Australia’s largest producer of greenhouse gas emissions and number 31 in the world.
Eleven threatened species were identified within the project site including the koala, greater glider, ornamental snake and the squatter pigeon.
The short-beaked echidna, Australian painted snipe, grey falcon, and four migratory birds – white-throated needletail, Caspian tern, fork-tailed swift and Latham’s snipe – are also at risk.
In November last year, it was announced that the Saraji South mine in the Bowen Basin would be placed into care and maintenance, with BHP cutting 750 jobs.
“The simple fact is the Queensland coal industry is approaching a crisis point,” BHP Mitsubishi Alliance asset president Adam Lancy said last year.
BHP stated in February this year it was facing “acute challenges” in Queensland because it was paying more in taxes and royalties than it was making in profits, with the coal royalty regime in Queensland cited as the main reason for the job cuts.
The state government was contacted for comment but did not respond by deadline.
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