Glencore has received approval to expand its operations at one of Australia’s largest coal mines.
The Ulan coal mine is located in the central west region of New South Wales and will extract an additional 18.8 million tonnes of coal, as it extends operations by two years after being approved to operate until 2035.
The underground mine is permitted to extract almost 330 million tonnes (Mt) of ore over the next two decades.
A Glencore Australia spokesperson told the ABC the company welcomes the decision from the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.
“The modification will provide ongoing employment opportunities for people at Ulan coal complex,” the Glencore Australia spokesperson said.
The department has implemented 13 conditions to the approval to manage biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, water usage and Aboriginal cultural heritage.
It found the development’s potential environmental impacts could be “avoided, managed and offset”.
Ulan has a comprehensive environmental management system in place, which provides a framework for dealing with environmental management issues across all areas of the mine, in a systematic way.
The department noted that emissions from the project would contribute less than 0.1 per cent to NSW’s 2030 and 2035 greenhouse gas targets.
Glencore will be required to prepare a greenhouse gas mitigation plan within six months, in consultation with the NSW Environment Protection Authority, as part of its commitment to responsible operations.
Approval for Ulan’s expansion is a significant development for the NSW region, helping secure local jobs and continuity for one of the state’s major energy producers.
In 2023, Glencore invested $430 million into goods and supplies in the area, employing 588 people and produced 11.3Mt of saleable coal for the year.