A train departs from the Blackwater mine in Queensland, Australia. (Photo: Whitehaven)
In its recent quarterly report (Q2 2024), Whitehaven Coal said it produced 4 million metric tons (mt) of coal and sold 3.2 million mt from its operations in Queensland, which now includes the Daunia and Blackwater mines acquired from BHP in April. The company said the transition in ownership was safe and smooth. There were some problems with railing services, but those have been resolved.
At the end of the quarter, Whitehaven’s Queensland operations had 1.6 million mt stockpiled. Closing stocks at Blackwater were 1.2 million mt, including a stock build to cover planned prep-plant maintenance in the September quarter.
Whitehaven’s operations in New South Wales (NSW) produced 4.3 million mt of clean coal and sold 3.2 million mt. Raw coal production for NSW increased 13% quarter-on-quarter, re-
flecting improved reliability of the Narrabri longwall following engineering upgrades, the company reported.
As far as the legal proceedings related to the Narrabri Underground Mine Stage 3 Extension Project, which extends the approved life of the mine from 2031 to 2044, Whitehaven said it welcomed the High Court of Australia’s recent refusal of an application for special leave to appeal made by the Environmental Council of Central Queensland (ECCQ). A green group, the ECCQ sought to appeal a judgment of the Full Federal Court from May 2024 dismissing review proceedings regarding the climate change effects of coal emissions. Considering these lengthy delays created by the protracted nature of these legal challenges, Whitehaven said it is looking forward to an expeditious determination of the Narrabri Stage 3 Project by the Federal Minister for the Environment and Water.
