Millennium Expansion Project
The proponent for the Millennium Expansion Project (MEP) is Millennium Coal Pty Ltd (MCPL), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Peabody Pacific Pty Ltd. The project is located in the Bowen Basin 22km east of Moranbah and 16km southwest of Coppabella within the Isaac Regional Council area. The MEP proposal is located within mining lease (ML) 70313, ML Application 70401 and Mineral Development Licence 136.
The proponent seeks to extend its current run of mine (ROM) open cut hard coking coal mining operation from 1.9 million tonnes a year (Mt/y) to 10 Mt/y. The mine life would be extended for a further 15 years from when the environmental approvals would be granted.
The MEP proposes to continue the existing open-cut truck and excavator terrace mining methods, though the use of electronic shovels and/or a dragline may be considered at a later stage in the life of the mine. The MEP may require an upgrade to the current power supply if alternative mining methods (e.g. electric shovel and/or dragline) are undertaken in the future.
Water would be sourced from the West Creek Environmental Control Dam, the CH4 Coal Seam Gas operation and the Burdekin pipeline.
Coal would be crushed, sized and washed on site through the existing coal handling and processing plant. The size of the current ROM and product stockpile areas would be increased to meet the additional throughput. Product coal would be railed to the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal for export.
Accommodation facilities would be provided for construction and operational contractors and personnel at the Mac Accommodation Village at Coppabella. Additional staff may be accommodated at the Mac Accommodation Village in Moranbah.
The proponent applied for, and has been granted, approval to prepare a voluntary environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project.
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth)
The MEP is a controlled action that requires approval under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The controlling provisions under Division 1, Part 3 of the EPBC Act are sections 18 and 18A (Listed and threatened species and communities). The State’s EIS process has been accredited for the assessment under Part 8 of the EPBC Act in accordance with the Bilateral Agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Queensland.
The final terms of reference (TOR) was issued to the proponent on Monday, 3 August 2009. A copy of the final TOR is available by accessing the link below. The proponent will now prepare the draft environmental impact statement addressing the requirements of the final TOR.
The process for the assessment of the Millennium Expansion Project is as follows:
Copies of publicly available documents can be obtained by accessing the links below:
For further information about the EIS process for the Millennium Expansion Project, contact the EIS Coordinator on telephone 1300 130 372
Last updated: 03 August 2009