04/09/2026
'Australia’s new national agency for environmental protection has approved its first coal project, allowing a Queensland open-cut mine to keep digging until 2055 while clearing threatened woodland and koala habitat.
The confirmation of the extension of the Saraji mine, which digs and exports coal for steel making, comes after the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, denied this week there was tension over Australia’s fossil fuel exports during talks with Pacific leaders.
The National Environmental Protection Agency confirmed to Guardian Australia it had approved the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) mine extension to dig a further 55m tonnes of coal between now and 2055.
Ben McLeod, a senior adviser at the Climate Council, said burning coal overseas to make steel would release about 120m tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere over the life of the mine. Australia’s current annual emissions are 455m tonnes.
“This leaves us incredulous,” said McLeod. “The prime minister said the entry fee for the forum was taking climate change seriously, but then we get this approval of 55 million tonnes of coal. It is hard to see how those two things are compatible.”
Queensland open-cut Saraji mine will be able to keep digging until 2055 as Anthony Albanese denies tensions with Pacific leaders over fossil fuels
