Australia’s ‘super emitter’, the most methane polluting mine in the world has plans to expand.
- Total emissions: around 40 million tonnes of CO2e pollution each year.
- Coal Produced: 20 million tonnes of coal each year.
- Mine Life: 2040.
Glencore’s Hail Creek coal mine is located near Nebo, 85 kms inland of Mackay in central Queensland on Widdi Country. Hail Creek is an open cut mine approved to extract up to 20 million tonnes of coal each year. (1) Hail Creek produces thermal and metallurgical coal, in recent years it has increased production of thermal coal and in 2024 it produced more thermal coal than metallurgical coal.
Glencore’s Hail Creek Open Cut coal mine is one of the most polluting mines on the planet. It is estimated to emit 20% of Australia’s methane pollution from coal mining (2), while accounting for just 1% of Australian coal production.
An independent team of Dutch researchers analysed satellite measurements over six coal mines in the Bowen Basin and found that in 2018-19 these coal mines emitted 570 thousand tonnes of methane (3). The six coal mines represent around 13% of Queensland's coal production, yet the emissions from these coal mines were significantly higher than the total emissions reported by the state of Queensland that year. The research highlighted Glencore’s Hail Creek Open Cut coal mine, as a ‘super emitter’, as its methane pollution is more than 10 times higher than what was reported to regulators. The research found Hail Creek emitted 230,000t of methane in 2018-19, because methane traps over 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide in its first two decades in the atmosphere; the mine had the same short term warming impact as roughly 19 million tonnes CO2 a year. A similar amount of pollution is produced from the combustion emissions of the coal the Hail Creek mine exports each year, which are estimated to be about 20 million tonnes CO2 a year. This means Hail Creek could be polluting the atmosphere with around 40 million tonnes of CO2e pollution each year, from the combustion of the coal that is exported and the release of fugitive methane gas during the mining process, making it one of the most polluting mines in the world.
An investigation by the Australian Conservation Foundation analysed satellite images and found that the Hail Creek coal mine released more methane pollution in 16 days than the company reported was emitted over an entire year.
In January 2024 Glencore lodged an application with the Queensland government to extend the Hail Creek mine (the Eastern Margin Extension) by expanding the area of three existing open cut pits and digging one entirely new open cut pit. The application for the extension does not seek to increase the maximum extraction of run of mine coal per annum (20Mtpa), or extend the life of the mine past its anticipated end of life in 2040. It is unclear how much additional coal the extension is seeking to mine, but the amendment does note that the final mined footprint is approximately 600 ha (22% larger) than what is currently approved (2873 ha to 3511 ha). The application for the extension contained no information about the project's greenhouse gas emissions, despite the status of the mine as a ‘super emitter’
The proposed extension’s footprint will clear 600 hectares of Koala habitat. Koalas have been recorded on the site of the proposed new mining areas. The extension will also clear valuable habitat for the Greater Glider, Australian Painted Snipe, Ornamental Snake, Squatter Pigeon, Glossy Black Cockatoo and Short Beaked Echinda.
The landscape surrounding the Hail Creek mine has high biodiversity and scenic values. The Homevale National Park is directly adjacent to the existing Exevale pit that is proposed to be expanded. Photos and aerial footage of the Hail Creek mine and areas planned to be cleared for the extensions are available here.
The Queensland government has requested more information about the project, which includes a request for a greenhouse gas assessment. Glencore is required to respond by 31 March 2025. Once the additional information is provided the Queensland government will publicly notify the project and open it for public comments and objections. The QLD government has already determined that a full Environmental Impact Statement assessment will not be required by Glencore for the project, meaning a less rigorous Environmental Authority amendment application process will be used to assess the project.
The project will need to be assessed under Federal Environmental law (EPBC Act) for impacts on threatened species and water resources. The EPBC referral application will be decided on by the Federal Environment Minister. Glencore has not yet referred to the project but has indicated it will. The referral under EPBC is expected in 2025.
