Rolleston coal mine

The Rolleston Coal Mine is an open-cut coal mine located in Central Queensland, Australia. The mine has coal reserves amounting to 600 million tonnes of thermal coal. The mine has an annual production capacity of 14 million tonnes run of mine coal.[1] It is one of numerous coal mines in the Bowen Basin.

Rolleston Coal Mine
Location
Location16 km west of Rolleston
Queensland
CountryAustralia
Coordinates24°26′43.4″S 148°24′58.522″E
Production
ProductsThermal coal
History
Opened2005
Owner
CompanyXstrata, Sumisho Coal Australia, Winfield Energy
Year of acquisition2003

The mine is jointly owned by Glencore, Sumitomo Corporation and Winfield Energy. It was acquired by Xstrata after its purchase of Mount Isa Mines in 2003. Full development of the Rolleston mine was approved by Xstrata in February 2004.[2] Mining operations begin in 2005.[2] Winfield Energy acquired the 12.5% interest formerly held by Itochu on 8 February 2019.[3][4][5]

Rolleston Mine is approved to produce six million tonnes per year for export and two million for domestic use.[2] Coal from Rolleston Mine leaves the country via the Port of Gladstone. The majority of the mine's haulage is conducted by Aurizon under contract using electric locomotives.[6] Coal from the mine is used to power the Gladstone Power Station.[2]

Floods

Excess water filled the mine pits in 2010 affecting production.[7] The mine was forced to declare force majeure after the 2010–2011 Queensland floods affected rail operations.[8]

Expansion

An application to expand the mine was made to the federal government on 17 May 2011.[9] The mine is located within the Fitzroy River basin which flows into the Coral Sea. An expansion of mining operations may indirectly affect the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park through sedimentation and the pollution of waterways.[10] The expansion would lift production almost threefold to between 15 and 20 million tonnes a year.[10]

See also

References
  1. "Bowen Basin coal mines". bowenbasin.com. 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  2. "Rolleston". Glencore Xstrata. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  3. "ANNOUNCEMENTS". lbr1. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  4. "Coal-related business policy | Sustainability News". ITOCHU Corporation. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  5. "Couriermail.com.au | Subscribe to The Courier Mail for exclusive stories". myaccount.news.com.au. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  6. "Aurizon signs with Xstrata for Rolleston haulage". Australian Journal of Mining. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  7. Esmarie Swanepoel (11 March 2010). "Rolleston pits still in 'recovery mode' after rains". Mining Weekly. Creamer Media. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  8. Jessica Burke (4 February 2011). "QLD coal mines undamaged by Cyclone Yasi". Australian Mining. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  9. Cole Latimer (18 May 2011). "Xstrata Coal push ahead on Rolleston". Australian Mining. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  10. Peter Ker (18 May 2011). "Xstrata gives green light to Rolleston expansion". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
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