BHP will close a coal mine in the NSW Hunter Valley after failing to attract a buyer.
The mining giant has announced that it has not received a viable bid for the New South Wales Energy Coal (NSWEC), which controls the Mount Arthur open pit coal mine south of Muswellbrook.
The mine employs about 2,000 people and is the largest in the state.
The mining giant has announced that it has not received a viable bid for the New South Wales Energy Coal (NSWEC), which controls the Mount Arthur open pit coal mine south of Muswellbrook. (Janie Barrett)
BHP currently has mining consent to operate in Mount Arthur until 2026, but is looking for an extension to continue mining there until 2030.
BHP said operating until 2030 was the “optimal financial outcome compared to alternative options”.
After 2030, BHP will close the mine.
BHP will close the mine after the end of the 2030 fiscal year and then rehabilitate the site for another 10 to 15 years. (Janie Barrett)
Rehabilitation of the site is expected to take another 10 to 15 years.
The mine only extracted coal for the international market after ceasing domestic sales in 2020.
The 10 richest people in Australia in 2022 were revealed