Underground coal mine closures - a historic win, but future risk

The report examines the role of underground coal mine closures in reducing fugitive methane emissions in Australia. While the closure of 'super-emitting' mines has historically driven significant emissions decreases, new project expansions and license extensions threaten to reverse these gains and undermine national and state climate targets.

• Underground coal mining is a disproportionate source of fugitive emissions in Australia; while it accounts for roughly 15% of total coal production, it is responsible for approximately two-thirds of total fugitive emissions from coal mines.
• A small number of 'super-emitting' underground mines drive the majority of emissions in specific states. In Queensland, four large underground mines contribute up to one third of all estimated scope 1 emissions in the coal sector. In New South Wales, six underground mines contributed more than half of all reported scope 1 emissions in 2023, despite representing only 14% of the state's overall coal production.
• The most significant reductions in fugitive emissions have resulted from the closure of older, high-emitting mines rather than abatement technology. Notable closures include Coalcliff (1992), Muswellbrook and Collinsville (1997), Dartbrook (2007), Mannering Colliery (2013), West Wallsend Colliery (2016), and Austar coal mine (2020).
• Methane-related safety incidents have led to partial or full closures of high-emitting mines. Appin coal mine, the country's highest emitter, saw production reduced for two years starting in 2017 due to unsafe gas levels. Other affected sites include North Goonyella (2018), Grosvenor (2020), and Russell Vale (last year).
• Future emissions reductions are threatened by new projects and extensions not yet included in forward estimates. These include the Narrabri underground coal mine license extension to 2044, the Lake Vermont Meadowbrook expansion, and a potential 57% annual emissions increase at Tahmoor coal mine. Civil society research identifies 27 proposed coal mining projects that could impact emissions estimates.

APA

Ember (2025). Underground coal mine closures - a historic win, but future risk. https://ember-energy.org/chapter/underground-coal-mine-closures-a-historic-win-but-future-risk/

Chicago

Ember. Underground coal mine closures - a historic win, but future risk. 2025. https://ember-energy.org/chapter/underground-coal-mine-closures-a-historic-win-but-future-risk/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Ember |title=Underground coal mine closures - a historic win, but future risk |date=27 March 2025 |url=https://ember-energy.org/chapter/underground-coal-mine-closures-a-historic-win-but-future-risk/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ember2025underground, author = {{Ember}}, title = {{Underground coal mine closures - a historic win, but future risk}}, institution = {Ember}, year = {2025}, month = mar, url = {https://ember-energy.org/chapter/underground-coal-mine-closures-a-historic-win-but-future-risk/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }