Ensham Life of Mine extension project

Project overview

Current stage

• Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process completed

Description

• Extension of the existing Ensham Mine
• Single seam, underground bord and pillar mining operations to extract thermal coal at the current planned production rate of 4.5 million tonnes per annum within existing mining leases and extension into a new mining lease area
• Use of existing underground and surface infrastructure including road, rail and mine infrastructure equipment
• No additional surface infrastructure or surface disturbance within the new mining lease area

Proponents

Ensham Join Venture including:

• Idemitsu Australia Resources Pty Ltd
• Bligh Coal Limited
• Bowen Investment (Australia) Pty Ltd

Location

• Approximately 35 kilometres (km) east of Emerald and 49km north-west of Blackwater in Central Queensland

Local government

• Central Highlands Regional Council

Lifespan

• Extension of existing mine to approximately 2037

Jobs

• Maintaining current operational workforce of approximately 603
• No construction workforce

Commonwealth approval needed

• Yes (controlled action EPBC 2020/8669), single EIS assessment process for Queensland and the Commonwealth.

Environmental impact statement (EIS)

The EIS Assessment Report was issued to the proponent on 9 November 2021 in accordance with section 60 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act). The EIS process under Chapter 3, Part 1 of the EP Act is now completed.

Notice and documents

Publicly available documents can be obtained by accessing the links below or by contacting Idemitsu by phone 1800 290 620, email enquiries@idemitsu.com.au.

• EIS Assessment Report (PDF, 13.3 MB)
• EIS documents
• Final terms of reference (PDF, 1 MB)

Superseded documents

• s51-52 public notice (PDF, 1.9 MB)
• s42 public notice (PDF, 171.2 KB)
• Initial advice statement (PDF, 4.1 MB)
• Draft terms of reference (PDF, 1 MB)

For further information about the EIS process for this proposal, contact the EIS Coordinator (Ensham Life of Mine Extension Project) on 13QGOV (13 74 68) or email eis@des.qld.gov.au.