While the project’s proponents, QCoal and JFE Steel Corporation, initially planned to hit up to 10 million tonnes per annum of exports over a 46-year mine life, the federal approval lasts for three decades to 2044.
Among the 22 federal conditions the joint venture is required to submit and effectively run a biodiversity offset management program and a groundwater monitoring and management plan.
Located 20km west of Glenden and 60km south of Collinsville the project includes plans to develop eight open cut pits within an estimated 6998ha disturbance area across six mining lease application blocks.
Construction is expected to take two years and create up to 350 jobs. First coal exports could consequently occur in the second half of 2016.
With Queensland environmental approval received in July, the project next needs to receive a state mining lease to allow construction work to begin.
The operational phase is expected to require a workforce of 545, with the mine expected to mainly produce a washed coking coal for Asian steel mills, along with some thermal coal output.
