Australian government extends operation in 3 coal mines

Extend operation

The Australian government has given the green light for extended operations at three major thermal coal mines in New South Wales: Whitehaven Coal’s Narrabri mine (approved until 2044), MACH Energy Australia Pty Ltd’s Mount Pleasant (until 2048), and Ashton Coal’s Ravensworth mine.

As one of the world’s largest fossil fuel exporters, Australia continues to face criticism for supporting coal and gas projects while pushing for ambitious domestic emissions cuts. Miners argue their coal is cleaner than alternatives, and delays in approvals threaten jobs and Australia’s reliability as a supplier.

Global energy security

Whitehaven Coal emphasized the ongoing demand for its high-quality thermal coal in Asia, where it’s used in high-efficiency, low-emissions power stations, playing a key role in global energy security during the energy transition.

Old projects

The Australia Institute estimates that these three mines will emit about 1.4 billion tons of CO2 over their lifetime—three times Australia’s annual emissions. These approvals bring the total coal projects okayed under the Albanese government to seven.

“These are not new projects, but extensions of existing operations,” said Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, noting emissions will be managed under the government’s strong climate laws.

Despite these approvals, Australia’s thermal coal exports are expected to decline from A$37 billion in 2023-2024 to A$28 billion by 2026, with stable volumes forecasted.