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Environment & Climate

Australia's environmental protection regulator approves its first coal mine expansion

The decision extends the Saraji metallurgical coal mine to 2055 with species protection limits, drawing criticism from environmental groups.

Updated Sep 3, 2026 · 03:18 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • Australia's National Environmental Protection Agency approved an extension for the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance Saraji coal mine in Queensland, marking the agency's first coal approval since launching on July 1.
  • The decision allows the extraction of 55 million tonnes of steelmaking coal through 2055, subject to caps on clearing habitat for koalas, ornamental snakes, and squatter pigeons.
  • Climate advocacy organizations criticized the approval as contrary to national emissions goals, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese maintained that regional partners understand the transition cannot occur overnight.

Key facts

  • The National Environmental Protection Agency approved the extension of the Saraji open-cut coal mine in Queensland, allowing operations through 2055 to extract 55 million additional tonnes of steelmaking coal.[The Guardian]
  • The approval is the first coal project permitted by the agency since it began operations on July 1 following national environmental law reforms.[The Guardian]
  • Permit conditions establish clearing limits of up to 132.5 hectares of ornamental snake habitat, 162 hectares of squatter pigeon habitat, and 11.5 hectares of koala habitat.[The Guardian]
  • The Climate Council estimated that burning the extracted coal overseas would generate approximately 120 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over the life of the mine.[The Guardian]
  • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejected assertions of tension with Pacific Island leaders over Australian fossil fuel exports, stating regional leaders recognize the energy transition requires time.[The Guardian]

What remains uncertain

  • The total downstream environmental and water quality impacts on the Fitzroy River catchment during future flood events remain unquantified by independent regulators.[The Guardian]

Sources