COAL MINES AND MINING – NEW SOUTH WALES

Hunter jobs rest on hydro dream

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Original article by Perry Williams
The Australian – Page: 15 & 21 : 17-Apr-25

BHP has commissioned Acciona to undertake an initial feasibility study into developing a pumped hydro energy storage project at part of the Mt Arthur thermal coal mine when it closes in 2030. BHP had announced in 2022 that it would close the mine by the end of the decade, given that it is nearing the end of its economic life; the company has confirmed that the NSW government has granted planning approval for the mine to keep operating until the scheduled closing date. The mine employs about 2,000 workers.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP

Green light for three coalmine extensions

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Original article by Colin Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 25-Sep-24

The federal government has approved the expansion of coal mines owned by Whitehaven Coal, MACH Energy and Ashton Coal Operations in the Hunter Valley region of NSW. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has emphasised that they are existing projects rather than new ones, and there will be limited clearing of land in order to protect threatened species. However, Carmel Flint from the Lock the Gate ­Alliance says it is shameful that the government has approved the thermal coal min expansions when it is supposed to be committed to a net-zero emissions target of 2050.

CORPORATES
WHITEHAVEN COAL LIMITED – ASX WHC, MACH ENERGY AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, ASHTON COAL OPERATIONS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER, LOCK THE GATE ALLIANCE INCORPORATED

Multi-employer laws a danger to industry: miners

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 14-Feb-24

The Minerals Council of Australia will oppose a union’s push for a multi-employer enterprise agreement at five coal mines in NSW. The Collieries’ Staff & Officials Association recently applied to the Fair Work Commission to commence negotiations over a new enterprise agreement for mine supervisors at sites operated by Peabody Energy, Glencore, Whitehaven, Delta and Wollongong Resources. MCA CEO Tania Constable says each company has its own cost structures, business models and operating environments, and they not be "roped together" simply because they all produce coal.

CORPORATES
MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, COLLIERIES’ STAFF AND OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, PEABODY ENERGY AUSTRALIA COAL PTY LTD, GLENCORE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WHITEHAVEN COAL LIMITED – ASX WHC, DELTA ENERGY PTY LTD, WOLLONGONG RESOURCES

Coal plan could mean supplying at cost

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Original article by Nick Evans, Perry Williams
The Australian – Page: 2 : 20-Jan-23

BHP’s production report for the December quarter shows that it expects each tonne of coal produced at its Mt Arthur mine in NSW to cost up to $US91 ($132) per tonne in 2022-23. This compares with the price cap of $125 per tonne that the state government has imposed on thermal coal that is supplied to the Liddell and Bayswater power stations. BHP may be forced to supply up to 1.5 million tonne of coal at cost to the power stations under the state government’s domestic coal reservation policy. The existing policy implemented in late 2022 applied to a small number of thermal coal producers, but it will be broadened to include major producers such as BHP and Whitehaven Coal.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, WHITEHAVEN COAL LIMITED – ASX WHC

Coalminers told to keep the lights on

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Original article by Perry Williams, Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 19-Jan-23

The NSW government will require the majority of mining companies to reserve up to 10 per cent of their thermal coal output in the state for the domestic market. The domestic coal reservation policy is expected to be implemented by the end of January. The government had previously only required some thermal coal miners to reserve part of their output for the state’s power stations, but this prompted complaints that it placed an unfair burden on a small number of ­producers. Coal-fired power stations generate about 60 per cent of the state’s electricity supply.

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South32 walks away from coal extension

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Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 16 : 24-Aug-22

Diversified miner South32 has advised that it will not proceed with a proposed US700m ($1bn) expansion of its Dendrobium coal mine in NSW. CEO Graham Kerr says the company has decided to invest its capital in other projects, although he has not ruled out reviving the expansion plans for Dendrobium in the future. Production at the mine is slated to continue until at least 2028; the expansion would have extended its mine life to 2041, after South32 scaled back plans for a larger expansion that was rejected by the NSW Independent Planning Commission in 2021.

CORPORATES
SOUTH32 LIMITED – ASX S32, NEW SOUTH WALES. INDEPENDENT PLANNING COMMISSION

BHP abandons sale of Mt Arthur coal mine

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Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 17-Jun-22

BHP has shelved plans to sell the Mt Arthur thermal coal mine in New South Wales after the trade sale process did not attract a "viable" offer for the asset. The estimated $1bn cost of rehabilating the site when the mine closes is believed to have been a major deterrent for potential buyers. Mt Arthur had been slated to close in 2045, but BHP has advised that this will be brought forward to 2030. BHP says that keeping Mt Arthur open for another eight years will provide certainty for the mine’s 2,000 workers and the Hunter Valley community.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP

Unvaxxed BHP miners agree to get the jab

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 5 : 25-Nov-21

BHP has advised that fewer than 35 workers at its Mt Arthur coal mine have yet to provide evidence that they are vaccinated against COVID-19. The resources group recently stood down nearly 80 of the mine’s workers under its mandatory vaccination policy. The CFMEU and the ACTU are challenging the validity of this policy in the Fair Work Commission, contending that BHP did not comply with the consultation requirements of the Work, Health and Safety Act.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MARITIME, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, ACTU, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION

BHP miners sent home without pay

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 5 : 11-Nov-21

BHP imposed a deadline of 10 November for all workers at its Mt Arthur open-cut coal mine to receive their first COVID-19 shot under its mandatory vaccination policy. BHP has advised that almost 80 unvaccinated workers at the mine have been stood down without pay, although it will not take any further action until the Fair Work Commission issues a ruling on a legal challenge to the vaccination policy. The Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining & Energy Union had sought to delay implementation of the policy. Workers at all other BHP sites must be vaccinated by the end of January.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MARITIME, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION

Coal exports to steady before a slide

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 4 : 9-Feb-21

The New South Wales government has forecast that demand for the state’s thermal coal in Asia will remain strong at more than 600 million metric tonnes a year until 2030. However, this is expected to gradually decline to about 470 million metric tonnes in 2050 as the global transition to alternative sources of energy generation gathers pace. The government document also notes that the industry contributes about 22,000 direct jobs to the state economy, as well as some 89,000 indirect jobs.

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