Moolarben dossier

MOOLARBEN COAL MINES PROPOSAL

Proponent: Moolarben Coal Mines, wholly owned subsidiary of NCIG member Felix Resources

Location: 40km northeast of Mudgee, in the NSW Central Western district.

Proposal: For “stage one”, Felix is proposing a combination of three open-cut and one underground coal mines in a highly sensitive area adjacent to the the Goulburn River National Park and Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. It is immediately east of the Ulan coal mine and west of the approved-but-not-yet-operational Wilpinjong coal mine. The Stage One proposal is to dig up about 12 million tonnes of Run of Mine coal (the raw product), or 10 million tonnes of product coal (that is, washed coal, ready for sale and combustion) per annum, which when burned would produce about 25 million tonnes of equivalent carbon dioxide (comparison: the entire NSW transport sector emissions in 2004 were 22.6 million tonnes). The project would destroy 416.6 hectares of important remnant vegetation, including more that 65 hectares of listed Endangered Ecological Community. It would be likely to have unacceptable impacts on the extensive system of rivers and aquifers in the area. Felix also propose, though are yet to seek approval for, a so-called “Ultra Clean Coal” plant within the bounds of the proposed mine site. The purpose of the UCC plant would be to remove everything from the coal but the carbon. The UCC plant would involved the use of large amounts of alkali and acid solutions, next to important waterways and bushland.

Process as at end November 2006: Felix has submitted an Environmental Assessment under Part 3a of the NSW EP&A Act (the planning act). The EA does not assess the impacts on life on earth caused by the burning of the coal and subsequent climate change. The Planning Minister appointed an Expert Panel(with rather narrow terms of reference), that sat in Mudgee on the same day the panel sat in Newcastle for the proposed NCIG Coal Export Terminal (why were they separate? It's the same project...). The panel is yet to hand down its advice (which the Minister can ignore anyway). All eyes are on the NSW Planning Minister. For updates see the Planning website: www.planning.nsw.gov.au/asp/register2006.asp#cw

Further info:
www.savethedrip.com
www.moolarbencoal.com.

contacts:
Mudgee District Environment Group
PO Box 114 Mudgee NSW 2850
Ph: (02) 6372 2420
Fax: (02) 6372 2420
Bev Smiles, Chairperson npovah{AT}yahoo.com 0263734330
Jocelyn Hulme, Secretary hulmeje{AT}hwy.com.au

Comments

Thanks for creating

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on 9 April 2008 - 2:47pm.

Thanks for creating employment oppotunities for locals.

Moolarben - Low coal price and its problems

Submitted by Mr Thermal on 17 March 2009 - 12:03pm.

Felix Resources (80%)and its partners the Korean Consortium (10%) and Sojitz (Japan)(10%), present problems ahead as they develop the Moolarben Project. The Korean and Japanese will take most of the coal, assuring sales of 13mtpa for the next 25 years at least.
Low coal prices will make the alternative green energies look expensive. At present the Aussie$ is very weak against the US$ and this will sustain profitability at Aussie mines, due to the price of coal being quoted in American Dollars.

About us

Rising Tide Australia is a grassroots Newcastle group taking action against the causes of anthropogenic climate change and for equitable, just, effective, and sustainable solutions to the crisis. We are committed to the principles of Non-violent Direct Action. We are part of the global Rising Tide climate justice movement. We live in the biggest coal port in the cosmos.