Australia's new national agency for environmental protection has approved its first coal project, permitting a Queensland open-cut mine to continue operations until 2055. The extension for the Saraji mine, which extracts coal for steel making, also allows for the clearing of threatened woodland and koala habitat.
The National Environmental Protection Agency confirmed to Guardian Australia that it approved the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) mine extension to dig a further 55m tonnes of coal between now and 2055. This marks the agency's first approval for a coal project since it began operations on 1 July, following reforms to national environment laws last year.
An agency spokesperson stated that the approval includes "strict conditions to protect threatened species and water resources" and will limit the clearing of habitat for threatened koalas, ornamental snakes, and squatter pigeons. BMA's application indicated it would likely need to clear 9.7 hectares of endangered koala habitat, 14.2 hectares of vulnerable ornamental snake habitat, 39 hectares of vulnerable squatter pigeon habitat, and 3.1 hectares of threatened Brigalow woodland.
The approval has drawn criticism from climate groups. Ben McLeod, a senior adviser at the Climate Council, estimated that burning the coal overseas for steel production would release approximately 120m tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere over the mine's lifespan. Greenpeace Australia Pacific described the Saraji approval as the 37th fossil fuel project approved by the Albanese government, calling it "double talk" and an "affront" to Pacific leaders.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denied this week that there were tensions with Pacific leaders over Australia's fossil fuel exports during talks at the Pacific Islands Forum. He stated that Pacific leaders respect Australia's position on the transition and understand that it cannot happen overnight.