Rolleston Coal

Rolleston Coal is an open cut thermal coal mine which is located 16 kilometres from the town of Rolleston in the Bowen Basin in Queensland. The mine, Xstrata Coal states on its website, has a "current approved production levels of 6 million tonnes per annum for export out of the Port of Gladstone and 2 million tonnes per annum for domestic use." The mine commenced operations in September 2005.

Xstrata Coal states that the "current economic coal reserves to be mined at Rolleston are 173 million tonnes with further exploration planned. The coal is low in ash at approximately 8% with moderate energy. The coal is sold to customers in the Asian region and to the local Gladstone Power Station for power generation."

Ownership
Xstrata Coal states on its website that Rolleston Coal "is a joint venture between Xstrata Coal Queensland Pty Ltd, (75%), Sumisho Coal Australia Pty Ltd and IRCA Rolleston (both 12.5%)."

History
On its website Xstrata Coal states that "on the 24th June 2003 Xstrata plc acquired MIM and the Rolleston Coal Project was put on hold for 12 months while Xstrata undertook a detailed evaluation of the project. On the 24th of February 2004 Xstrata plc approved the full scale development of the Rolleston Coal Project at 8mtpa with construction to begin shortly thereafter."

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Australia and coal
 * Queensland and coal