Rio Tinto’s Bengalla mine extension is approved
Published by Jonathan Rowland,
Editor
World Coal,
Rio Tinto’s Bengalla mine extension project has been approved by the New South Wales (NSW) Planning Assessment Commission, allowing the extraction of an additional 316 million t of coal at the site over a period of 24 years beyond the current closure date 2017.
According to the Anglo-Australian miner, the project would result in a further AU$778 million in state royalties and AU$509 million for the federal government, as well as creating an 300 new jobs in the construction of the mine extension. Final employment at the Bengalla site after the project is complete would be 900 people.
“The 362 mining workers and their families at Bengalla now have a certain future,” said NSW Minerals Council CEO, Stephen Galilee. “NSW has the most rigorous environmental compliance in Australia and [the Bengalla project has] been thoroughly assessed against that criteria. This is good news for the region and it’s good news for mining families," Galilee concluded.
The Bengalla mine is located about 4 km southwest of the town of Musselbrook in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley region. In 2013, the mine produced more than 8 million t of thermal coal for export.
Written by Jonathan Rowland.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/exploration-and-development/03022015/rio-tinto-bengalla-mine-extension-is-approved-1836/
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