Mount Arthur coal mine gets life extension approval from PAC

1573
Close-up of BHP's Mount Arthur coal mine Image credit: flickr User: Lock the Gate Alliance

BHP Billiton has been given the green light by Australia’s Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) to extend the life of its Mount Arthur coal mine in the Hunter Valley.

Close-up of BHP's Mount Arthur coal mine Image credit: flickr User: Lock the Gate Alliance
Close-up of BHP’s Mount Arthur coal mine
Image credit: flickr User: Lock the Gate Alliance

The mining giant can now extend the life-of-mine by four years to 2026 and extract an additional 128 million tonnes of coal, reports ABC.

The green-lighted proposal is subject to a number of conditions set forth by PAC, such as listing Mount Arthur’s blasting activity on the Muswellbrook Shire Council to keep the public informed.

The company will now be able to increase the number of vehicles used on site from 193 to 291 and increase blasting times from two to three a day.

PAC was abundantly clear that during the process of reviewing and clearing the proposal, blasting had been a key issue of concern, considering the 153 complaints submitted by the local community in the period between 2007 and 2011.

Adertisement

With the relaxation of blast times and frequency, the mine will be able to make full use of favourable weather conditions and reduce its impact on the people living in its vicinity.

The production rate is set to remain steady at the current 32 million tonnes of coal per year.

According to the article on The Herald, BHP welcomed the decision as ‘‘consistent with the findings and recommendation of the Director-General of the Department of Planning and Environment that the benefits of the Modification Project outweigh its impacts and it is in the public interest’’.

‘‘BHP Billiton will continue to work with the community and relevant stakeholders to ensure impacts from its operations are appropriately managed and mitigated and compliance with its obligations under the conditions are achieved,” the company said in a statement.