Oaky Creek Coal Mine

From Global Energy Monitor
This article is part of the
Global Coal Mine Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.
Download full dataset
Report an error
Sub-articles:
Related-articles:

Oaky Creek Coal Mine is an operating coal mine in Tieri, Queensland, Australia.

Location

Table 1: Project-level location details

Mine Name Location Coordinates (WGS 84)
Oaky Creek Coal Mine Tieri, Queensland, Australia -23.072256, 148.483994 (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 1990

Table 3: Operation details

Capacity (Mtpa) Production (Mtpa) Year of Production Mine Type Mining Method Mine Size (km2) Mine Depth (m) Workforce Size
5.346[1] 2025[1] Underground 220.0[2] 350.0 800.0[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
33.0[4] 2023[4] 675.0 Bowen Bituminous Met Terminal (Export)

Table 5: Ownership and parent company

Note: To access more comprehensive data on energy ownership, please visit the Global Energy Ownership Tracker.
Owner Parent Company Headquarters
Glencore PLC Glencore PLC [100.0%] Switzerland

Table 6: Historical production (unit: million tonnes per annum)

ROM or Saleable 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
ROM[1] 8.92[1] 5.75[1] 6.57[1] 6.46[1] 5.35[1] 5.77[1] 5.51[1] 5.35[1]

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 7: 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
21.506 1785.031 2024-25 [5] 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.

Coal Mine Background

The site started producing coal in 1982 with various phases. Mining Operations at Oaky Creek No 1 ceased during 2017.[6]

On its website former owner Xstrata Coal stated that the mine produces "two premium quality medium volatile coking coals, differentiated on coking properties, for export to Japan, Asia, Europe, North Africa and South America. The difference between the two products is attributed to changes in the coal seam within the OCC [open-cut- coal] mine lease. Coal is transported by rail to Dalrymple Bay (297km) and Gladstone (394km) for export by ship. The remaining mine life for OCC is approximately 32 years."[7]

In 2014 the mine was producing 7.178 million tonnes of saleable coal. Now it produces 15.9 million tonnes of run of mine coal.[8]

Underground mining commenced in July 1989 with longwall operations established at Oaky No. 1 Mine in 1990. Development work for a second underground longwall mine commenced at Oaky North Mine in 1995 and longwall coal was first produced in February 1999. Open cut operations ceased in December 2006.[9]

In 2019, the mine produced 15.9 million tonnes of ROM Coal and about 7.5 million tonnes saleable[9][10]

The mine comprises two underground longwall mining operations and a coal preparation plant with the coal exported via the ports in Mackay and Gladstone.[9]

Operations at Glencore’s Oaky Creek North coal mine in Queensland’s Bowen Basin resumed in July 2025 after a three-month suspension due to a water inflow evacuation, following an earlier halt in late 2024 after a worker was killed at the site, with safety remediation completed and production restarted.[11]

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
M0085.B1 mine boundary underground Oaky Creek mine boundary extracted 2024-03-01 00:00:00
M0085.P1 degasification system gas well drainage infrastructure extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P2 degasification system flare flare extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P3 degasification system flare flares extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P4 other dewatering station possibly a mine dewatering pump station - the pipeline appears to terminate at a pond at -23.02861111111111 148.5791666666667 extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P5 degasification system drainage station gas drainage stations connected to flares extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P6 degasification system gas to electric station gas to electricity generation plant extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P7 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P8 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P9 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P10 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P11 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P12 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P13 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P14 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P15 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P16 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P17 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P18 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P19 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P20 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P21 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P22 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P23 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P24 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P25 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P26 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P27 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P28 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P29 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P30 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P31 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P32 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P33 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P34 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P35 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P36 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P37 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P38 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P39 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P40 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P41 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P42 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P43 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P44 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P45 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P46 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P47 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P48 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P49 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P50 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P51 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P52 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P53 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P54 degasification system gas well gas well extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P55 degasification system gas well gas wells extracted 2023-04-01 00:00:00
M0085.P56 degasification system gas well gas wells extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P57 degasification system gas well possible gas drainage infrastructure extracted 2024-04-01 00:00:00
M0085.P58 ventilation system shaft ventilation shaft extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P59 ventilation system vent ventilation shaft extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P60 ventilation system shaft ventilation shaft and drainage infrastructure extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P61 ventilation system vent ventilation shaft and drainage infrastructure extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P62 ventilation system vent ventilation shaft and drainage infrastructure extracted 2023-04-01 00:00:00
M0085.P63 ventilation system shaft ventilation shaft and drainage infrastructure extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00
M0085.P64 ventilation system shaft ventilation shaft and drainage infrastructure extracted 2022-12-01 00:00:00

Table SMP2: Coal mine boundaries and methane sources data (continued)

Coal mine boundaries and methane sources were last researched for this mine on Apr 04, 2025
ID Notes
M0085.B1 Section 1.1 Project Overview and History of Progressive Rehabilitation and Closure Plan, March 2024, https://web.archive.org/web/20250327202352/https://storagesolutiondocsprod.blob.core.windows.net/register-documents-applications-prcp/PRCP-EPML00942413-V1_1_Applicationdocuments_Attachment_02.pdf describes the mining leases for the mine: ML 1832, ML 2004, ML 70241, ML 70327 and ML 70424 and Figure 2.5 of shows the mining lease areas. Mining lease details from the Queensland Mining Leases dataset https://web.archive.org/web/20250327173139/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/queensland-mining-and-exploration-tenure-series/resource/f87794b8-7b9a-4732-89bb-56ccb2228d27 : ML 1832 (Oaky Creek), granted June 1979, expiring June 2041; ML 70327 (Oaky East), granted March 2009, expiring June 2041; ML 70424 (Oaky South East), granted July 2012, expiring July 2027; ML 70241 (Sandy Creek), granted July 2001, expiring June 2041; ML 2004 (Oaky Creek Extended), granted August 1993, expiring August 2035. The boundary is the perimeter of these mining leases and has an area of 176 sq km.
M0085.P1 A Glencore 'fact sheet' on methane emissions https://web.archive.org/web/2/https://www.glencore.com.au/dam/jcr:d7ab0b8c-6571-4dad-a945-4efa38315ab4/A13649_GCAA_Fact%20Sheet%20Update%20-%20Methane_FINAL.pdf shows vertical wells, vent stacks, elec gen and flares are used.

Figure 4.2 of the June 2022 Oaky Creek Coal Underground Water Impact Report https://web.archive.org/web/2/https://www.glencore.com.au/dam/jcr:d29bac33-ea25-41b3-a97d-3dac5d93c7c5/220629R-OCC-UWIR-2022.pdf also shows current and historical gas drainage wells.

Figs 2.3, 2.4 of Oaky Creek Joint Venture - Oaky Creek Coal Mine - Application Form for Submission of a Progressive Rehabilitation and Closure Plan https://web.archive.org/web/2/https://storagesolutiondocsprod.blob.core.windows.net/register-documents-applications-prcp/PRCP-EPML00942413-V1_1_Applicationdocuments_Attachment_02.pdf show some main infrastructure such elec gen and flaring plants.

M0085.P2 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P3 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P4 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P5 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P6 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P7 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P8 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P9 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P10 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P11 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P12 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P13 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P14 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P15 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P16 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P17 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P18 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P19 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P20 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P21 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P22 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P23 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P24 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P25 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P26 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P27 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P28 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P29 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P30 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P31 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P32 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P33 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P34 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P35 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P36 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P37 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P38 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P39 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P40 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P41 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P42 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P43 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P44 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P45 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P46 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P47 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P48 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P49 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P50 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P51 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P52 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P53 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P54 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P55 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P56 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P57 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P58 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P59 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P60 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P61 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P62 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P63 Identified visually from Google Earth Pro satellite imagery.
M0085.P64 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
Oaky Creek Flaring - Australia Flaring Operational 2012
Oaky Creek Power Generation #1 Phase I Project - Australia utilization Operational 2006
Oaky Creek Power Generation #1 Phase II Project - Australia utilization Operational 2009
Oaky Creek Power Generation #2 Project - Australia utilization Operational 2016

Methane Plumes Detected Nearby

Global Energy Monitor researchers analyze satellite-detected methane plumes in order to determine whether they have been observed at or near the site of GEM energy assets. The satellite data provider creates imagery of individual methane plumes and estimates their emission rates at the time of observation. GEM has reviewed many of these plume detections against Google Earth imagery and GEM’s own energy infrastructure tracker data. The following table lists methane plumes which are associated with the energy asset or facility based on distance and manual review. (A full description of the analysis process is available in the Global Methane Emitters Tracker methodology wiki page.)

Table M1: Plume details

For additional details on this individual plume identification and others, see the Global Methane Emitters Tracker.
Observation date Satellite data provider Location of plume origin Methane emissions rate Additional plume information
2024-04-22T00:13:13+00 CarbonMapper, 917cb402-2049-41fe-a310-1d8dbabb0656 -23.0475, 148.5933[12] 1624.0 kg/hr[12] Queensland State Methane Observation 2024-04-22, 1
2024-07-18T00:13:19+00 CarbonMapper, 13de55e0-5614-46ce-ab1a-0c80164aeb2f -23.0463, 148.5666[12] 676.0 kg/hr[12] Queensland State Methane Observation 2024-07-18, 1
2024-08-22T00:16:29+00 CarbonMapper, 665b1ef3-f80d-49db-afb6-7f9c23d3494a -23.0475, 148.5933[12] 926.0 kg/hr[12] Queensland State Methane Observation 2024-08-22, 2
2024-09-03T00:22:59+00 CarbonMapper, 66a73384-27f6-4634-af62-57064c6620f7 -23.0767, 148.5657[12] 813.0 kg/hr[12] Queensland State Methane Observation 2024-09-03, 1
2024-12-15T00:31:45+00 CarbonMapper, tan20241215t003145c00s4001-C -23.0632, 148.5987[13] 1204.643 kg/hr[13] Queensland State Methane Observation 2024-12-15, 2
2024-12-15T00:31:45+00 CarbonMapper, tan20241215t003145c00s4001-B -23.0482, 148.5917[13] 493.8142 kg/hr[13] Queensland State Methane Observation 2024-12-15, 3
2025-04-14T00:58:19+00 CarbonMapper, tan20250414t005819c00s4001-C -23.0397, 148.598[13] 1510.079 kg/hr[13] Queensland State Methane Observation 2025-04-14, 1
2025-04-19T00:45:24+00 CarbonMapper, tan20250419t004524c00s4001-D -23.049, 148.5917[13] 900.4363 kg/hr[13] Queensland State Methane Observation 2025-04-19, 2
2025-04-19T00:45:24+00 CarbonMapper, tan20250419t004524c00s4001-C -23.0397, 148.5981[13] 374.9642 kg/hr[13] Queensland State Methane Observation 2025-04-19, 3
2025-04-19T00:45:24+00 CarbonMapper, tan20250419t004524c00s4001-A -23.0634, 148.5998[13] 834.4024 kg/hr[13] Queensland State Methane Observation 2025-04-19, 4

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. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 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)
  2. (PDF) https://www.glencore.com.au/dam/jcr:f7ebf5c5-8bba-476e-8dcf-eb2448b8117b/Oaky%20Creek%20Fact%20Sheet%202024%20-%20Final%20V3.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-23/oaky-creek-north-coal-mine-resumes-operations/105559888. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. 4.0 4.1 (PDF) https://www.glencore.com/.rest/api/v1/documents/static/a53e27b1-6025-4ef2-9be8-f3be543dfb26/GLENCORE-Resources-and-Reserves-report-2023.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. https://cer.gov.au/document/baselines-and-emissions-table-2024-25-0. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. Mining Data Online, "Oaky Creek Mine", Mining Data Online website, accessed 21 January 2020.
  7. Xstrata Coal, "Oaky Creek", Xstrata Coal website, accessed August 2010.(Unavailable)
  8. Glencore, "Oaky Creek Fact Sheet", Glencore website, accessed 21 January 2020.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Glencore, "Oaky Creek", Glencore website, accessed 21 January 2020.
  10. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MM
  11. "Oaky Creek North Coal Mine resumes operations after evacuation," ABC News, July 22, 2025
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 12.7 url=https://methanedata.unep.org/
  13. 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 13.11 url=https://data.carbonmapper.org/