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BHP to Keep Australian Coal Mine After No Bids Received

BHP put the Mt Arthur Coal mine up for sale, but said it failed to get a viable offer, so it may seek permission to continue mining from 2026, but has set aside $700 million for closure of the mine.


Mining giant BHP said on Tuesday it would review its coal production after being shaken by a steep rise in some Australian royalty rates.
BHP says demand for steel is increasing because of the massive growth in wind and solar energy facilities. File photo: Reuters.

 

Global miner BHP Group said on Thursday it would retain its New South Wales Energy Coal project, after it had earlier announced the mine was under a two-year review process.

BHP had put the assets up for sale, but it was unable to get a viable offer for it, the company said, adding that it had set aside a $700 million provision for closure of the mine.

“Following a review of all available options, BHP has made a decision to keep Mt Arthur Coal in its portfolio and seek the relevant approvals to continue mining beyond its current mining consent that expires in 2026,” BHP said.

The miner said the move was “part of a responsible process to cease mining in 2030 and provide a pathway to closure for the operation”.

Mt Arthur Coal is an open-cut energy coal mine producing coal for international customers in the energy sector. The mine, 5km south of Muswellbrook in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, is 100% owned by BHP.

The mine, which began operations in 2002, employs about 2,000 people, who predominantly live in the region.

Historically, the site produced coal for domestic and international customers in the energy sector, but shifted to international customers only from the second half of 2020.

 

  • Reuters, with additional editing by George Russell

 

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George Russell

George Russell is a freelance writer and editor based in Hong Kong who has lived in Asia since 1996. His work has been published in the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, New York Post, Variety, Forbes and the South China Morning Post.