Name of the Project
Olive Downs coking coal project.

Location
In the Bowen basin, in Queensland, Australia.

Project Owner/s
Pembroke Resources.

Project Description
Olive Downs will be one of the biggest opencut coking coal mines in the world.

The project proposes the development of a greenfield opencut coal resource in an existing brownfield mining precinct for the export of coking and pulverised coal injection products to the steel production industry. Fully developed, the complex will be one of the biggest metallurgical coal mines in the world.

The project comprises the Olive Downs South and Willunga deposits.

The proposed Olive Downs South domain opencut pit areas are generally aligned from north to south and are located on the western side of the Isaac river.

Phase 1 will produce 4.5-million tonnes a year of steelmaking coal, which will be exported through the Darymple Bay coal terminal.

At full production, the mine could produce up to 15-million tonnes a year of metallurgical coal, with a mine life of nearly 80 years.

The Olive Downs project will include major infrastructure, including a coal handling and preparation plant, a rail spur, a train load-out facility, a coal conveyor, stockpiles, electrical transmission lines, a water pipeline and access roads.

Potential Job Creation
The project will support 700 jobs during construction and more than 1 000 new jobs for the region when fully operational.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
The project is estimated at A$1-billion.

The Stage 1 project is expected to require a capital spend of A$450-million.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
Construction has started on the Olive Downs coal mine, estimated to be worth A$10.1-billion to the gross state product of Queensland and regarded as “an absolute jobs jackpot”.

“Over its lifetime, the mine will employ up to 1 000 workers in the local region, as well as create up to 700 construction jobs to build the mine and associated infrastructure, including rail and transmission lines, water pipelines and access roads,” Queensland Minister Scott Stewart has said.

In 2017, Olive Downs was declared a coordinated project to enable the Coordinator-General to efficiently progress the project by assisting developer Pembroke Resources to navigate the approvals process. The project is the first to be assessed under the Strong and Sustainable Resource Communities Act.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Sedgman and CPB Contractors (design, procurement, construction and commissioning of the coal handling and preparation plant).

Contact Details for Project Information
Pembroke Resources, tel +61 2 9231 1400 or email info@pembrokeresources.com.au.