With more than 500,000 construction hours logged and $500m already spent, the new $1bn Olive Downs coal mine in Central Queensland is almost open for business. PHOTOS
As of May 2023, Pembroke Resources estimates it has spent more than $500m on the complex, which will produce up to 15m tonnes a year of metallurgical coal, or coal used in the steelmaking process, over an 80-year lifespan.
The company has also logged more than 500,000 construction hours.
Looking north at the Pembroke Olive Downs mine from the rail loop in May 2023. Picture: Contributed
Pembroke CEO Barry Tudor expects the greenfield open-cut mine to begin production in June and deliver its first shipment of coal in early 2024.
“The Olive Downs Complex is delivering new, incremental production of high-quality steelmaking coal to supply-constrained world markets,” he said.
Delivery of the first truck tray for the fully autonomous Cat 794 fleet to the Pembroke Olive Downs mine in May 2023. Picture: Contributed
In February, the company celebrated the construction of the new Sheldon Bridge over the Isaac River, linking the complex near Moranbah to the public road network.
The mine holds reserves of more than 500m tonnes, making it one of the largest steelmaking coal reserves in the state.
The assembly pad at the Pembroke Olive Downs mine in May 2023. Picture: Contributed
The $1bn construction phase has created about 500 jobs and the company says the mine will support 1000 jobs at full production.
Bridge construction on the 19km rail corridor for the Pembroke Olive Downs mine in May 2023. Picture: Contributed
The company will rail coal to the Dalrymple Bay terminal near Mackay and then export it to Asian markets, including Japan, South Korea and India.
The new Liebherr 9800 excavator for the Pembroke Olive Downs mine in May 2023. Picture: Contributed
The Northern Australian Infrastructure Facility backed the Pembroke development with a $175m loan.
The company calculates the mine will deliver more than $10bn to Queensland’s economy over its lifespan.