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Ironbark No. 1 Coal Mine is an operating coal mine in Moranbah, Queensland, Australia.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Mine Name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Ironbark No. 1 Coal Mine | Moranbah, Queensland, Australia | -21.97648262, 148.2346531 (approximate) |
The map below shows the approximate location of the coal mine:
Project Details
Table 2: Project status
| Status | Status Detail | Opening Year | Closing Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating[1] | – | 2023[1] | – |
Table 3: Operation details
| Capacity (Mtpa) | Production (Mtpa) | Year of Production | Mine Type | Mining Method | Mine Size (km2) | Mine Depth (m) | Workforce Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4[2] | 0.704[3] | 2025[3] | Underground | Longwall | 100.0 | 400.0 | 360.0[4] |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48.0[5] | 2023[5] | 362.0[5] | Bowen | Bituminous | Thermal & Met | Terminal (Export) |
Table 5: Ownership and parent company
| Owner | Parent Company | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|
| Fitzroy Australia Resources Pty Ltd | ITOCHU Corp [50.0%]; American Metals & Coal International Inc [50.0%] | Australia |
Table 6: Historical production (unit: million tonnes per annum)
| ROM or Saleable | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROM[3] | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0.18[3] | – | 0.7[3] |
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
The Ironbark No. 1 coal mine (formerly known as the Ellensfield Coal Project) is an underground longwall mine 30 kilometres north-east of Moranbah, in the Bowen Basin, Central Queensland, Australia.[6] The mine is owned and operated by Fitzroy Australia Resources, which is backed by US investment firms Riverstone and AMCI.
As of January 2023, first longwall coal was achieved from the mine.[7]
Fitzroy Resources Australia also plan to construct a gas-fired power plant (up to 20MW) to power the mine.[8] Ironbark would become the first new development from a group of assets Fitzroy acquired from Brazilian mining giant, Vale, in November 2016.[9]
The project, which neighbors Carborough Downs mine, was approved in October 2018.[10]
The Ironbark No. 1 operation achieved first coal in August 2022 (just seven months after commencing construction in January 2022) and first longwall coal in January 2023.[11][7]
At full production, Ironbark No. 1 is expected to produce up to 6 million tonnes per annum run of mine (ROM) coal, mostly hard coking coal.[12]
After coal is extracted, it is washed at the Fitzroy Mining Operation’s Coal Handling Preparation Plant, then sent to Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal for shipment to customers worldwide.[13]
Ironbark No. 1 is expected to have a 25-year life.[14]
- Operator: Fitzroy Mining Operations
- Owner: Fitzroy Australia Resources[15]
- Location: 30 kilometres north-east of Moranbah and 125 kilometres south-west of Mackay, Central Queensland[6]
- GPS Coordinates: -21.97648262, 148.23465305 (approximate)
- Status: Proposed (Construction)
- Production Capacity: 6 Mtpa[16]
- Total Resource:
- Mineable Reserves: 380 million tonnes (66 million tonnes proved)[17]
- Coal type: Coking coal and thermal coal[18]
- Mine Size: 1000 hectares[19]
- Mine Depth: 400 m[20]
- Mine Type: Underground, longwall mining
- Start Year: 2020[9]
- Source of Financing:
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M0052.B1 | mine boundary | underground | Ironbark No. 1 mine boundary | extracted | 2025-09-02 00:00:00 |
| M0052.P1 | ventilation system | vent | ventilation system | extracted | 2023-12-03 00:00:00 |
| M0052.P2 | degasification system | gas to electric station | mine gas fired power station | extracted | 2024-04-30 00:00:00 |
| M0052.P3 | degasification system | drainage station | possible gas drainage station | extracted | 2023-12-03 00:00:00 |
| M0052.P4 | degasification system | gas well | gas well | extracted | 2023-12-03 00:00:00 |
| M0052.P5 | degasification system | gas well | gas well | extracted | 2023-12-03 00:00:00 |
| M0052.P6 | degasification system | gas well | gas well | extracted | 2023-12-03 00:00:00 |
| M0052.P7 | degasification system | gas well | gas well | extracted | 2023-12-03 00:00:00 |
| M0052.P8 | degasification system | flare | flare | extracted | 2023-12-03 00:00:00 |
| M0052.P9 | other | preparation plant | preparation plant | extracted | 2023-12-03 00:00:00 |
Table SMP2: Coal mine boundaries and methane sources data (continued)
| ID | Notes |
|---|---|
| M0052.B1 | Figure 2 - Mine Layout on page 5 of the Ironbark No.1 Coal Mine Project Initial Development Plan, 25 October 2017, https://web.archive.org/web/20240626133555/https://www.miningnewsfeed.com/reports/Irionbark_1_Coal_Mine_Project_Initial_Development_Plan_10252017.pdf, shows the proposed mining lease boundary. The boundary is then shown in the Appendix 1 Approved Project Layout on page 43 of the Environmental authority EA0001299 permit, December 8, 2021, https://web.archive.org/web/2/https://storagesolutiondocsprod.blob.core.windows.net/register-documents-ea/EA0001299.pdf. Page 1 of the same document refers to the mining lease permit ML700024. The boundary is the geometry of permit ML 700024 as extracted from the Queensland Mining Leases dataset, last updated Sep 2 2025, https://web.archive.org/web/2/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/queensland-mining-and-exploration-tenure-series/resource/f87794b8-7b9a-4732-89bb-56ccb2228d27. The area of the boundary is approximately 34 sq km. |
| M0052.P1 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0052.P2 | APPENDIX 2 - APPROVED SURFACE INFRASTRUCTURE on page 51 of Permit Environmental authority number: EA0001299, https://web.archive.org/web/2/https://storagesolutiondocsprod.blob.core.windows.net/register-documents-ea/EA0001299_20240430.pdf, April 30 2024, shows the planned location of the gas fired power station. |
| M0052.P3 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0052.P4 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0052.P5 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0052.P6 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0052.P7 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0052.P8 | Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery. |
| M0052.P9 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ironbark No.1 Coal Mine Flaring Project - Australia | Flaring | Operational | 2022 |
| Ironbark No.1 Coal Mine Power Generation - Australia | utilization | Operational | 2025 |
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 https://fitzroyoz.com.au/operations/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ (PDF) https://environment.des.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0028/97516/ML700024-uwir-report.pdf.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 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/#:~:text=1%20operation%20achieved%20first%20coal;have%20a%20~%20360%20strong%20workforce.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 https://miningdataonline.com/property/3424/Ironbark-No.-1-(Ellensfield)-Mine.aspx.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 Fitzroy Australia Resources, "The Business", Fitzroy Australia Resources website, accessed 30 October 2019.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "First Coal! Congratulations to the Ironbark No.1 team and the wider Fitzroy Mining Operations' business", Fitzroy Australia website, 13 January 2023.
- ↑ Fitzroy Australia Resources, "Ironbark No.1 Coal Mine Project Initial Development Plan", Fitzroy Australia Resources website, page 3, 25 October 2017.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Fitzroy Australia Resources, "Fitzroy targets inexperienced mine workers for Ironbark No.1", Fitzroy Australia Resources website, 14 December 2018.
- ↑ Steve Zeppa, "Ironbark No. 1 mine in Queensland approved", Mesca News, 31 October 2018
- ↑ "Operations: Ironbark No.1", Fitzroy Australia Resources website, accessed April 2023.
- ↑ "New Ironbark No.1 coal mine taking shape", Northern Stevedoring Services website, 10 May 2022.
- ↑ "Another milestone for our Ironbark No.1 operation", Fitzroy Australia Resources website, 13 January 2023.
- ↑ Fitzroy Australia Resources, "New life for Bowen Basin coal sites", Fitzroy Australia Resources website, 9 December 2017
- ↑ Fitzroy Australia Resources, "The owners", Fitzroy Australia Resources website, accessed 30 October 2019.
- ↑ Fitzroy Australia Resources, "Ironbark on track to start producing coal by Q1 2020", Fitzroy Australia Resources website, 23 September 2018.
- ↑ Fitzroy Australia Resources, "Ironbark No.1 Coal Mine Project Initial Development Plan", Fitzroy Australia Resources website, page 30, 25 October 2017.
- ↑ Fitzroy Australia Resources, "Ironbark on track to start producing coal by Q1 2020", Fitzroy Australia Resources website, page 29 23 September 2018.
- ↑ Department of Environment and Heritage and Protection, "Ellensfield Coal Mine Project Environmental Impact Statement Assessment Report Adequacy of the EIS in addressing the TOR", page 3, State of Queensland, December 2012.
- ↑ Fitzroy Austrailia Resources, Ironbark 1 Coal Mine Project Intial Development Plan, October 25, 2017
