The largest coal mining project ever proposed in NSW, its increase in fugitive methane emissions would undermine NSW government climate targets and force other sectors of the NSW economy to make deeper emissions cuts.
- Total emissions: around 1.2 billion tonnes of lifecycle emissions.
- Coal Produced: 716 million tonnes of new coal.
- Mine Life: (north and south) until 2045 and 2050.
The Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) coal mining project is located 24km north west of Singleton in the Hunter Valley NSW and consists of two open-cut coal mine sites separated by the Hunter River, HVO North and HVO South. The project is a joint venture between Yancoal (49%) and Glencore (51%), with Glencore managing the mining operations at these mine sites.
Glencore proposes to extend its massive Hunter Valley Operations project for another twenty years (north and south) until 2045 and 2050. Advice from NSW’s Environment Protection Authority confirms that HVO is the largest coal project ever proposed in the state’s history.
The HVO Continuation Project proposes to extract an estimated 716 million tonnes of new coal and generate 29 million tonnes of on site emissions, which would count towards NSW’s carbon budget. The approval of this project would amount to an extraordinary 1.2 billion tonnes of lifecycle emissions, including downstream emissions equivalent to more than 8 times New South Wales’ current annual emissions. The project is clearly inconsistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement and the NSW Government’s Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023.
The project has also come under pressure from NSW Government agencies due to the vast increases in direct greenhouse gases, particularly methane, it would cause, including a spike after 2040.
NSW is not on track to meet climate targets and if this project proceeded all other sectors of the NSW economy would likely have had to reduce emissions more quickly to make up for it, according to the NSW EPA.
The EPA found that “the large increase in emissions from this Project in the mid-2040s, would mean that this project may contribute to requiring other parts of the NSW economy to compensate by making deeper emissions cuts for the state to remain on track with the NSW Government’s target of net zero emissions by 2050”
In October 2024, both HVO North and HVO South projects were withdrawn from the Federal EPBC assessment process, after the NSW government directed Glencore to provide further information as to how the project “fits within Glencore’s 2024-2026 Climate Action Transition Plan. In particular the plan’s consideration of Scope 3 emissions.” It also requested more information as to fugitive methane emissions. The letter finished with “Pending this review, it may be appropriate to then request and submit an amended application incorporating a revised mine plan.”
After withdrawing HVO North and HVO South, Glencore lodged an application for an extension of time for mining operations at HVO North (Modification 8), for an additional 18 months through to 31 December 2026, while it revises its plans for the longer extension of HVO North and South.
The newly submitted plans for the 18 month extension fails to include any measures to reduce greenhouse pollution from the gassy project as required under new NSW Government policy. See more from Lock the Gate.
