Range Coal Project
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Range Coal Project is a cancelled coal mine in Wandoan, Queensland, Australia.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Mine Name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Range Coal Project | Wandoan, Queensland, Australia | -26.230392, 150.272257 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the coal mine:
Project Details
Table 2: Project status
| Status | Status Detail | Project Type | Opening Year | Closing Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cancelled[1] | Permitted | New | 2026 | – |
Table 3: Operation details
| Capacity (Mtpa) | Production (Mtpa) | Year of Production | Mine Type | Mining Method | Mine Size (km2) | Mine Depth (m) | Workforce Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | – | – | Surface | Open Pit | 52.26 | 60* | 400 |
Table 4: Coal resources and destination
| Total Reserves (Mt) | Year of Total Reserves Recorded | Total Resources (Mt) | Coalfield | Coal Type | Coal Grade | Primary Consumer/ Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 118 | – | 286 | Surat Basin | Bituminous | Thermal | Port of Gladstone |
Table 5: Ownership and parent company
| Owner | Parent Company | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|
| Stanmore Resources Ltd[2] | Stanmore Resources Ltd [100%] | Indonesia |
Note: The above section was automatically generated and is based on data from the Global Coal Mine Tracker April 2024 release and the September supplement.
Background
The Range coal project was a proposed thermal coal mine located near Wandoan in the Surat Basin, Queensland, Australia.[3]
In May 2023, the mine was cancelled after owner and operator, Stanmore Resources, failed to provide adequate details about the project's environmental impacts.[4] On 7 April 2011, the Stanmore Resources announced that it had completed an agreement for the right to purchase The Range thermal coal project in the Surat Basin.[5]
By April 2013, the proponent has a granted exploration permit for coal over the project area and has applied for mining leases. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Assessment Report was issued to Stanmore Coal in April 2013 in accordance with Section 60 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994. The EIS process is now completed.[6]
Project plans include the mining of three open pits (two initially and the third being utilized in the final years) using conventional open cut mining techniques.[7] Coal would be transported on the proposed Surat Basin railway to port of Gladstone.[3] The feasibility of this project relies on the logistical issues of transporting the coal being resolved.[8] In January 2020, there appeared to remain uncertainty about the timing of the rail solution to transport the coal to Gladstone. Stanmore says it will continue with environmental monitoring and other minor on-site activities to maintain compliance with approvals. In March 2019, a new site specific Environmental Authority (EA) was applied for and this application was accepted by the Department of Environment and Science (DES) as appropriate to re-activate the DES approval process.[8]
According to the EIS, the project would involve the development of a greenfield open-cut coal mine, producing up to seven million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of thermal coal for export. Stanmore originally expected to commence construction and mine development in 2014, with mining operations planned to commence in 2016.[7] The life of mine is estimated at approximately 26 years.[7]
After several years with no public developments, the Range Coal Project was cancelled by the Australian government in May 2023 as a result of Stanmore Resources' failure to provide updated information on the environmental impacts.[4] Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek elaborated on the situation saying, "If companies aren't willing to show how they will protect nature, then I'm willing to cancel their projects — and that's exactly what I've done."[4]
- Operator: Stanmore Resources Ltd.[3]
- Owner: Stanmore Resources Ltd.
- Location: 30km from Wandoan, Queensland[3]
- GPS Coordinates: -26.230392, 150.272257 (exact)[3]
- Status: Cancelled[4]
- Production Capacity: 5 mtpa (on average)[7]
- Total Resource: 286 million tonnes[9]
- Mineable Reserves: 118 million tonnes[9]
- Coal type: (Thermal)[6]
- Mine Size: 5226 hectares[6]
- Mine Type: Open cast[6]
- Start Year:
- Source of Financing:
Articles and Resources
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of world coal mines, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Mine Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
References
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20240205192128/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/minister-cancels-two-queensland-coal-projects-that-held-back-green-docs-20230505-p5d5zr.html. Archived from the original on 05 February 2024.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|archive-date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://www.stanmore.net.au/assets/projects/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Stanmore Coal, "The Range Project", Stanmore Coal website, accessed 4 December 2019.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Rachel McGhee, "Queensland coal projects cancelled over failure to provide environmental impact information", ABC News Australia, 5 May 2023.
- ↑ Annual Report 2022, Stanmore Resources website, 27 Feb. 2023.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Queensland Government, "The Range Project", Queensland Government planning website completed projects, 24 July 2019.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Report under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, Queensland Government, accessed March 2023.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Stanmore Coal, "Annual Report 2019", page 15, 2019.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 2022 Annual Coal Resources and Reserve Summary, Stanmore Resources website, 27 Feb. 2023.
