Glencore Australia’s Ulan coal mine near Mudgee, New South Wales (NSW), Australia, has received approval from the NSW Department of Planning to expand its underground operations, according to a report by ABC News.
The approval allows for an additional 18.8 million tonnes (mt) of coal extraction and extends the mine’s lifespan until 2035.
Go deeper with GlobalData
The Ulan coal mine, one of Australia’s largest, has approval to extract nearly 330mt of ore over the next two decades.
A spokesperson for Glencore Australia expressed the company’s satisfaction with the approval, stating: “The modification will provide ongoing employment opportunities for people at Ulan Coal Complex.”
Despite the economic benefits, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water had raised concerns about the project’s potential environmental impact.
The department identified 21 native species at risk due to the mine’s expansion, with 17 hectares of native vegetation set to be cleared.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataHowever, the NSW Department of Planning has concluded that the impacts on native wildlife can be “avoided, managed and offset,”, imposing 13 conditions to mitigate the effects on biodiversity, water, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and Aboriginal cultural heritage.
The department stated that the project’s GHG emissions are expected to account for less than 0.1% of the state’s targets for 2030 and 2035.
As part of the conditions, Glencore Australia must prepare a Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Plan in consultation with the Environment Protection Authority within six months.
In related news, Mt. Labo Exploration and Development, a subsidiary of RTG Mining, has formed a strategic partnership with Glencore International for the Mabilo copper and gold project in the Philippines.
This agreement, signed in March, includes offtake agreements and a financing package, with plans to proceed with long-form documentation.
