BHP has transferred nearly 4,000 hectares of land at its Mount Arthur coal mine to Malabar Resources, the owner of a neighbouring mine. The deal includes 3,700 hectares and several exploration and mining licenses, allowing Malabar to expand its metallurgical coal mining operation onto the site, to be known as Maxwell North.
The Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR) has accused BHP of backflipping on its 2022 plan to slowly close the Mount Arthur mine by 2030. ACCR's Head of Engagement and Sector Strategy, Naomi Hogan, said the sale could enable mining beyond 2030, impacting investors, workers, and the environment.
BHP's Vice-President of NSW Energy Coal, Liz Watts, stated the deal aims to focus on environmental, economic, and social outcomes in mine closure, setting the region up for long-term success. The agreement also allows BHP to store coal tailings from Mount Arthur in an existing mine void at Maxwell.
Malabar Resources' executive chairman, Wayne Seabrook, said the new operation could create more than 300 jobs. Any plans for a new underground mine would require approval from the NSW Department of Planning.
Muswellbrook Shire Mayor Jeff Drayton welcomed the deal, noting the region was set to lose 2,000 jobs when Mount Arthur closes. The Mount Arthur site is part of a federal government pilot project developing a master plan for post-mining land use, including new industries like manufacturing and agriculture.
