BHP floats turning Mt Arthur coal mine into hydropower project
BHP says its Mt Arthur coal hub could be converted to produce hydroelectricity when mining ceases, with the company noting that some locals wanted rehabilitation that would generate ongoing economic activity.
A clean energy precinct was one of several post-mining options canvassed for the company’s Hunter region mine in formal closure planning documents lodged by BHP with the NSW government.
BHP’s application technically seeks an extension of coal extraction at Mt Arthur from the currently permitted deadline of 2026 to 2030. But in reality the 2030 deadline represents an early closure, given BHP had previously flagged plans to extract coal for power generation there until 2045.
The Mt Arthur open cut coal mine near Muswellbrook was expected to keep producing until 2045. Wolter Peeters
BHP told the NSW government that extending the mine life by an extra four years to 2030 would generate more than $1 billion of net present value for the state, including an estimated $483 million in extra royalties.
The extra time would also help the 2200 workers and the community adjust to the end of mining at the site after six decades of continuous extraction.
The default plan for rehabilitation of Mt Arthur is to return it to a mix of woodlands and paddocks for grazing.
But BHP said in its submission that those options did not “typically support significant economic benefits”.
The miner said surveys of local communities had unearthed a “significant” mood for rehabilitation that delivered ongoing economic benefit.
“A significant portion of feedback received from consultation undertaken for the modification focused on a preference for beneficial alternate mine land re-uses for the site, namely uses that generate continued significant
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