Carborough Downs Coal Mine
| This article is part of the Global Coal Mine Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor. |
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Carborough Downs Coal Mine is an operating coal mine in Moranbah, Queensland, Australia.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Mine Name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Carborough Downs Coal Mine | Moranbah, Queensland, Australia | -21.9502, 148.2094 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the coal mine:
Project Details
Table 2: Project status
| Status | Status Detail | Opening Year | Closing Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating[1] | – | 2006[1] | 2049 (planned)[1] |
Table 3: Operation details
| Capacity (Mtpa) | Production (Mtpa) | Year of Production | Mine Type | Mining Method | Mine Size (km2) | Mine Depth (m) | Workforce Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2[1] | 1.499[2] | 2025[2] | Underground | – | – | 500.0* | 500.0[3] |
Table 4: Coal resources and destination
| Total Reserves (Mt) | Year of Total Reserves Recorded | Total Resources (Mt) | Coalfield | Coal Type | Coal Grade | Primary Consumer/ Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43.0[1] | 2023[1] | 284.0[1] | – | Bituminous | Thermal & Met[2] | – |
Table 5: Ownership and parent company
| Owner | Parent Company | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|
| Fitzroy Australia Resources Pty Ltd[4] | ITOCHU Corp [50.0%]; American Metals & Coal International Inc [50.0%] | Europe, Japan |
Table 6: Historical production (unit: million tonnes per annum)
| ROM or Saleable | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROM[2] | 2.96[2] | 2.38[2] | 2.8[2] | 2.8[2] | 4.56[2] | 2.82[2] | 3.16[2] | – | 1.5[2] |
Expansion/Extension
Table 7: Project status
| Status | Status Detail | Project Type | Project Phase | Added Capacity (Mtpa)* | Start Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposed | Permitted | Extension[5] | – | – | – |
Reported Methane Emissions Data
Global Energy Monitor collates facility-scale methane emissions data reported by government and company sources collected in a systematic fashion. This mine is associated with the following methane emissions reports:
Table 8: Methane emissions
| Reported Coal Mine Methane Emissions (thousand tonnes CO2 equivalent) | Reported Coal Mine Methane Emissions (thousand tonnes CH4) | Year of Reported Coal Mine Methane Emissions | Reported Coal Mine Methane Emissions (thousand tonnes) Reference | Reference type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | – | – | | – |
| 23.366 | 1939.411 | 2024-25 | [6] | national government data |
Note: The above sections were automatically generated and are based on data from the Global Coal Mine Tracker May 2026 release.
Ownership Tree
This ownership tree is part of the Global Energy Ownership Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.
Background
Carborough Downs mine is an underground metallurgical mine in the Bowen Basin of central Queensland, Australia.
The mine is owned by the AMCI Group and Riverstone, and is operated by Fitzroy Australia Resources. Operations at Carborough Downs began in 2006.[7] At the time, AMCI was the owner of Carborough Downs mine. AMCI sold Carborough mine and the Broadlea North mine to Vale in 2008 for around $835 million.[8]
For about 10 years, Vale Australia operated Carborough Downs mine, producing about 2.8 million tonnes of coal per year. They expanded the mine in 2009.[9]
In 2017, AMCI subsidiary Fitzroy Queensland Resources bought 90% interest in the Carborough Downs mine and Broadlea opencut operations for an undisclosed amount.[10] Fitzroy also bought the remaining 10% interest from JFE Steel, JFE Shoji and POSCO-CD.[11]
Vale Australia had been planning to place Carborough Downs into care and maintenance in April 2017. But when Fitzroy Australia acquired the mine, the company planned to extend its life for a further 10 years.[12]
- Sponsor: Fitzroy Australia Resources[13]
- Parent Company: AMCI and Riverstone[13]
- Location: Located in central Queensland in the Bowen Basin, approximately 20 kilometres east of Moranbah and 180 kilometres southwest of Mackay.[14]
- GPS Coordinates: -21.9502, 148.2094
- Status: Operating[15]
- Capacity: 3.5 mtpa[16]
- Production: 2.4 mtpa (2022)[17]
- Total Resource: 177 Mt (Measured and Indicated, 2017) [12]
- Mineable Reserves: 33 Mt (Proven and Probable, 2017)[12] [18]
- Coal type: hard and semi-hard coking coal with pulverized coal injection (PCI) as a secondary product[14]
- Mine Size:
- Mine Type: longwall underground[14]
- Start Year: 2006[19]
- Source of Financing: AUS$340 million (US$245 million) debt financing from ANZ, BNP Paribas and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation in 2018-19
Expansion plan
An expansion of the mine was first proposed in 2006 with the Carborough Downs Joint Venture planning to increase production from the approved 1.9 million tonnes to annum to 5 million tonnes a year.[20]
The expansion was approved by the Queensland Government in early September 2022. The Minister for Resources, Scott Stewart, said the expansion would extend the life of the mine by 11 years. He said work on the expansion was expected to begin within 12 months. [21]
The 2006 proposal for the mine expansion stated that the original project was based on an estimated resource of 100 million tonnes. The original mining plan estimated a recovery rate of an estimated recovered of 40-50% and a production rate of up to 1.9 Mtpa, giving a projected mine life of approximately 30 years. Subsequent exploration work increased the estimated resource to about 300 million tonnes of in-situ resource. The joint venture estimated that with a similar recovery rate up to 150 million tonnes could be produced.[20]
Financing
ANZ, BNP Paribas and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation provided the Carborough Downs Mine with AUS$340 million (US$245 million) in debt between 2018 and 2019 to fund capital expenditure at the mine. [22][23]
2025 Investment
In November 2025, it was reported that a major international investment deal had been secured following the Premier’s trade mission, under which Argo Queensland was to acquire a 70 % stake in Fitzroy Australia Resources with the other 30% acquired by an unnamed Japanese entity.[24] It was noted that the deal was expected to safeguard more than 1,000 jobs among workers, contractors and suppliers in Central Queensland’s Bowen Basin and was framed by the Queensland Government as a boost to confidence in the state’s coal industry.[25]
Fatality at Carborough Downs
In November 2019, Fitzroy Australia suspended operations at Carborough Downs after a worker died in the mine. According to a Mining Technology article, the victim was hit by coal from the longwall face when working underground.[26]
The company resumed operations about two weeks later.[15]
Coal Mine Boundaries and Methane Sources
Global Energy Monitor researchers have identified coal mine boundary/boundaries and potential sources of coal mine methane (CMM) for this mine. These research results can be used to drive CMM attribution and mitigation efforts, particularly when combined with remotely sensed methane plume locations and mine ownership data. Explore the results with the embedded map at the top of this page by clicking on the mine boundary polygon or the CMM placemarkers to reveal more details. A detailed description of this research can be found in Coal Mine Boundaries and Methane Sources. This data is also available as a downloadable companion dataset to the Global Coal Mine Tracker and the Global Methane Emitters Tracker.
Table SMP1: Coal mine boundaries and methane sources data
| ID | Mine feature category | Mine feature subcategory | Description | Coordinates precision | Data source date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M0022.B1 | mine boundary | underground | Carborough Downs mining lease boundary | extracted | 2024-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.B2 | mine boundary | underground | Proposed mine expansion boundary (Carborough Downs South Extension) | extracted | 2024-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P1 | ventilation system | vent | Ventilation shaft 1 | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P2 | ventilation system | vent | Ventilation shaft 2 | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P3 | other | adit or drift | Underground mine access drift/portal | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P4 | other | adit or drift | Conveyor adit | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P5 | other | preparation plant | Coal handling and preparation plant | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P6 | degasification system | gas well | flare | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P7 | degasification system | gas well | possible gas well | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P8 | degasification system | gas well | possible gas well | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P9 | degasification system | gas well | possible gas well | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P10 | degasification system | gas well | possible gas well | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P11 | degasification system | gas well | possible gas well | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P12 | degasification system | gas well | possible gas well | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P13 | degasification system | gas well | possible gas well | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P14 | degasification system | gas well | possible gas well | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P15 | degasification system | gas well | possibe gas well | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P16 | degasification system | gas well | possible gas well | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P17 | degasification system | gas well | possible gas well | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P18 | degasification system | gas well | possible gas well | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P19 | degasification system | gas well | possible gas well | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P20 | degasification system | gas well | possible gas well | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P21 | degasification system | gas well | possible gas well | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P22 | degasification system | gas well | possible gas well | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P23 | degasification system | gas well | gas drainage station | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P24 | degasification system | gas well | possible gas well | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P25 | degasification system | gas well | possible gas well | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P26 | degasification system | gas well | possible gas drainage station | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P27 | degasification system | gas well | possible gas drainage station | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P28 | degasification system | gas well | possible gas well | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
| M0022.P29 | degasification system | gas well | possible gas well | extracted | 2023-12-01 00:00:00 |
Table SMP2: Coal mine boundaries and methane sources data (continued)
| ID | Notes |
|---|---|
| M0022.B1 | The coal mining lease boundaries of the Carborough Downs mine were downloaded from the Queensland Spatial Catalogue, https://web.archive.org/save/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/queensland-mining-and-exploration-tenure-series/resource/5041f29f-7001-467c-803f-963c59da76c1 , 2024 version, and the relevant leases were confirmed in an Environmental Assessment Report of the Carborough Downs South Extension Project, https://web.archive.org/save/https://minedocs.com/23/Carborough_Downs-Environmental_Assessment-2021.pdf. The mining leases were then merged to extract a polygon for the main mine's total boundary. The approximate area of the boundary is 50 square km. |
| M0022.B2 | The coal mining lease boundary of a proposed expansion project, ("Carborough Downs South Extension") of the Carborough Downs mine was downloaded from the Queensland Spatial Catalogue, https://web.archive.org/save/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/queensland-mining-and-exploration-tenure-series/resource/5041f29f-7001-467c-803f-963c59da76c1 , 2024 version. |
| M0022.P1 | The two ventilation shafts were identified in a 2022 Fitzroy Resources report, https://web.archive.org/save/https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/ckan-publications-attachments-prod/resources/0f3a2e0a-3627-4433-bec2-5122877f6388/2022-level-1-mine-emergency-exercise-report.pdf?ETag=dafc04400fb55775c8201cfb9cee021e. The map in Figure 2 CDCM Mine plan, of the report was coroborated with Google Earth imagery, and the exact coordinates of Shaft #1 was extracted manually from satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P2 | The two ventilation shafts were identified in a 2022 Fitzroy Resources report, https://web.archive.org/save/https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/ckan-publications-attachments-prod/resources/0f3a2e0a-3627-4433-bec2-5122877f6388/2022-level-1-mine-emergency-exercise-report.pdf?ETag=dafc04400fb55775c8201cfb9cee021e. The map in Figure 2 CDCM Mine plan, of the report was coroborated with Google Earth imagery, and the exact coordinates of Shaft #2 was extracted manually from satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P3 | This mine access drift/portal was identified via visual analysis of Google Earth satellite imagery from 2015-2023, and its location was confirmed in figure 2 of the Environmental Assessment Report of the Carborough Downs extension project, https://web.archive.org/save/https://minedocs.com/23/Carborough_Downs-Environmental_Assessment-2021.pdf. |
| M0022.P4 | This conveyor adit was identified via visual analysis of Google Earth satellite imagery from 2023. |
| M0022.P5 | This coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP) was identified via visual analysis of Google Earth satellite imagery from 2023. |
| M0022.P6 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P7 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P8 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P9 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P10 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P11 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P12 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P13 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P14 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P15 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P16 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P17 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P18 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P19 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P20 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P21 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P22 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P23 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P24 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P25 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P26 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P27 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P28 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0022.P29 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
Associated Coal Mine Methane Mitigation Projects
Some coal mines have installed infrastructure which can use and/or destroy some methane emissions associated with mining. In 2024, the Global Methane Initiative reported that this mine had a mitigation project associated with it. This methodology page describes how GEM classified these projects and linked them with coal mines in the Global Coal Mine Tracker.
Table MM1: Methane mitigation projects
| Mitigation Project Name | Project Type | GMI Reported Status | GMI Reported Start Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carborough Downs Flaring Project - Australia | Flaring | Operational | – |
| Carborough Downs Power Generation - Australia | utilization | Operational | 2022 |
Articles and Resources
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of world coal mines, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Mine Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 https://miningdataonline.com/property/328/Carborough-Downs-Mine.aspx.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/coal-industry-review-statistical-tables/resource/bab54159-f38b-4e6f-8652-4b04bca29139.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://fitzroyoz.com.au/operations/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://www.australianmining.com.au/new-consortium-buys-into-central-queensland-coal-operations/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/96068.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://cer.gov.au/document/baselines-and-emissions-table-2024-25-0.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ "ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934: COMPANHIA VALE DO RIO DOCE," "UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION", 2008.
- ↑ "Life after a Brazilian," Fitzroy Australia Resources website, June 22, 2017.
- ↑ "Factsheet: Carborough Downs," "Vale website," accessed June 2020.
- ↑ "Carborough Downs sold to Fitzroy," "Fitzroy Australia Resources website", June 22, 2017.
- ↑ "New life for Bowen Basin coal sites," "Industry Queensland", December 9, 2017.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "ATTACHMENT 1: PROJECT INTRODUCTION," "Fitzroy Australia Resources website," 2016.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lou Caruana, "Carborough Downs sold to Fitzroy," "Australia's Mining Monthly," December 9, 2016.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 "[http://www.vale.com/australia/en/business/mining/coal/carborough-downs/pages/default.aspx Carborough Downs ]," "Vale Australia website," accessed June 2020.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Salomae Haselgrove,"Fitzroy Australia restarts Carborough Downs operations," "Australian Mining," December 17, 2019.
- ↑ "Weak demand sees Peabody suspend Australian coal mine," "Argus," May 25, 2020.
- ↑ Carborough Downs Mine, Mining Data Solutions, accessed Feb 2023
- ↑ Mining Data Online, "Carborough Downs", Mining Data website, Accessed April 2021
- ↑ "List of large resource projects," "Queensland Government," accessed June 2020.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Carborough Downs Joint Venture, Carborough Downs mine expansion project : initial advice statement, Matrix Consulting, August 2006.
- ↑ Minister for Resources Scott Stewart, "CQ mine extension shows confidence in state’s resources sector", Media Release, September 1, 2022.
- ↑ "Carborough Downs Coal Mine Additional Facility 2018", IJGlobal, accessed September 2020
- ↑ "Carborough Downs Coal Mine Additional Facility 2019", IJGlobal, accessed September 2020
- ↑ "Global investors buy Queensland coal miner Fitzroy in vote of confidence," SP Global, November 26, 2025
- ↑ "Landmark coal investment secures hundreds of jobs for Queensland," Queensland Government, November 26, 2025
- ↑ "Fitzroy suspends operations at Carborough Downs following fatality," "Mining Technology," November 28, 2019.
