Moranbah South Coal Project

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The Moranbah South coal project is a proposed underground coking coal mine and a 50/50 joint venture between Anglo American and Exxaro Resources, near Moranbah in the Bowen Basin in Queensland, Australia.[1]

Although the project was removed from Anglo American's list of expansion options in December 2020, as of 2022, the project is being reconsidered.[2][3]

Location

The map below shows the approximate location of the proposed mine.[4]

Loading map...

Background

On 24 May 2012, the project was declared a controlled action under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), including that it be assessed by the EP Act EIS process under the bilateral agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Queensland relating to environmental impact assessment.[1] Approval came from the Australian Federal Government in November 2014.[5]

In 2017, Exxaro began the process of selling its 50% interest in Moranbah South, likely because of the company's commitment to restructuring its portfolio at the time.[6] However, the project was back on Exxaro’s radar in 2018 after failing to sell its stake. The CFO of Exxaro, , expressed uncertainty about the proposed joint venture project, and says, “In respect of the Moranbah South coking coal project, Exxaro together with Anglo American, are still in the process of reassessing the potential development plan."[7]

Exxaro together with Anglo American, are still in the process of reassessing the potential development plan.

If the mine goes ahead, it could run for 30 years.[1] Coal would travel by rail to Abbot Point Coal Terminal for export. Transporting the coal would require the construction of a new on-site rail-loading facility and rail loop.[1]

Project Details

  • Operator: Anglo Coal (50%) and Exxaro Australia (50%)[1]
  • Owners: Anglo American (50%) and Exxaro Resources (50%)[8]
  • Location: 3 kilometers south-east of Moranbah, Queensland, Australia
  • GPS Coordinates: -22.072567, 148.096529 (approximate)
  • Status: Proposed
  • Production Capacity: 18 mtpa[1]
  • Total Resource: 704.4 million tonnes (2022)[9]
  • Mineable Reserves:
  • Coal Type: Hard coking coal (Metallurgical)[1]
  • Mine Size: 17,550 hectares[1]
  • Mine Type: Underground longwall mining and bord and pillar mining[1]
  • Start Year:
  • Source of Financing:

Articles and resources

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Queensland Government, "Moranbah South project", Queensland Government Completed Projects website, 6 August 2019.
  2. Anglo American cuts coking coal guidance, Argus, December 14, 2020.
  3. "Anglo revisits Moranbah South mine proposal", Industry Queensland, 12 Dec. 2022.
  4. Exxaro, "Consolidated mineral resources and ore reserves report 2017", Exxaro website, accessed 20 December 2019.
  5. Anglo American, "Operations and projects", Anglo American website, accessed 20 December 2019.
  6. Sarah Mughal, "Exxaro starts sale process for 50% stake in Moranbah South coal JV with Anglo", S&P Global Market Intelligence, 22 May 2017.
  7. "EXXARO WEIGHS COAL EXPORT HANDLING OPTIONS AS RBCT CONGESTION RAISES ITS HEAD AGAIN", Exxaro website, Nov. 2019.
  8. MiningMx, "Exxaro, Anglo put Moranbah South back on radar as coal prices soar", Mining Mx website, 28 June 2018.
  9. Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources Report 2022, page 66, Anglo American, accessed March 2023.

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