The Cost of Extending a Mine

This research briefing by Ember evaluates the estimated Scope 1 methane emissions of the Lake Vermont Meadowbrook Extension Project. Ember argues that the project's Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) significantly underestimates methane emissions, potentially threatening the Safeguard Mechanism and the climate targets of the Australian and Queensland governments.

• Ember's independent analysis suggests that the Lake Vermont mine extension may be underestimating its methane emissions by 2.2 to 2.5 times compared to the company's Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). While the EIS estimates emissions at 13 million tonnes of CO2-e (100 year GWP), Ember's modelling indicates lifetime methane emissions could reach between 78 and 100 million tonnes of CO2-e when using the 20 year Global Warming Potential (GWP).
• The project, 70% owned by Jellinbah Group Pty Ltd, seeks to expand underground and open-cut mining operations until 2055. Ember asserts that the mine lacks a credible emissions reduction pathway or clear mitigation plan for the next 30+ years, despite the availability of cost-effective industry options such as pre-drainage and ventilation air methane capture.
• The potential underestimation of emissions poses a risk to the Safeguard Mechanism and the 2030 and 2050 climate targets of the Australian and Queensland governments. The mine extension is expected to increase emissions to 1.4 times the current baseline according to the operator, but Ember suggests this is an underestimate, which may force the mine to negotiate a higher baseline or rely on Australian Carbon Credit Units for compliance.
• A study by the Queensland Department of Resources on the Bowen Basin indicates that pre-drainage could reduce emissions from open cut operations by 63 thousand tonnes of methane, or over 5 million tonnes of CO2-e (20 year GWP), by eliminating or reducing an average of 35% of methane emissions.

APA

Reynolds, A., Assan, D. S., & Wright, C. (2023). The Cost of Extending a Mine. Ember. https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2024/10/Lake-Vermont-Research-Brief-2.pdf

Chicago

Reynolds, Annika, Dr Sabina Assan, and Chris Wright. The Cost of Extending a Mine. Ember, 2023. https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2024/10/Lake-Vermont-Research-Brief-2.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Reynolds |first1=Annika |last2=Assan |first2=Dr Sabina |last3=Wright |first3=Chris |title=The Cost of Extending a Mine |publisher=Ember |date=25 May 2023 |url=https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2024/10/Lake-Vermont-Research-Brief-2.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{reynolds2023cost, author = {Reynolds, Annika and Assan, Dr Sabina and Wright, Chris}, title = {{The Cost of Extending a Mine}}, institution = {Ember}, year = {2023}, month = may, url = {https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2024/10/Lake-Vermont-Research-Brief-2.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }