The Wandoan Coal Project is being developed by Xstrata Coal Queensland, a subsidiary of Xstrata Coal and part of global mining group Xstrata plc. Xstrata Coal Queensland (XCQ) employs over 3,100 Queenslanders. It manages six mining operations and one port in Queensland, located at Rolleston, Oaky Creek, Newlands, Collinsville and the Abbot Point Coal Terminal.

The project is being delivered by XCQ and funded through a joint venture between Xstrata Coal Queensland (75% ownership), ICRA (Itochu) Pty Ltd (12.5% ownership) and Sumisho Coal Australia (12.5% ownership).

The mining lease application area covers approximately 32,000 hectares. It is anticipated that the proposed mine would:

• include an open-cut coal mine, a coal handling and preparation plant, and support facilities
• have a construction of period of two to three years, with a start date to be determined once the Project receives all necessary approvals
• have an expected life of more than 30 years, with about 30 million run-of-mine tonnes of coal mined at Wandoan each year
• produce thermal coal which would be crushed, sized and washed before being transported by rail to port facilities on the Queensland coast and exported around the world, or sold here in Australia.

The Wandoan Coal Project has the potential to provide significant opportunities for the surrounding communities and the Queensland economy, with potential for new employment, infrastructure improvements, Government royalties and flow on effects to businesses in the local Wandoan, Taroom, and Miles areas, once construction of the proposed mine commences.

The Wandoan Coal Project received conditional environmental approval from the Federal Government in March 2011. The environmental approval follows consideration of the Project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Supplementary EIS, and the Queensland Coordinator-General’s report for the Wandoan Coal Project by the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. The approval is a significant milestone for the development of the Project, and it allows Xstrata Coal to proceed with the final stage of the mining lease application. Read more about the environmental approval in Xstrata Coal's media release.  

The Wandoan Coal Project received environmental approval from the Queensland Government in accordance with the conditions in the Coordinator-General’s Report for the Project in November 2010.   

For more information on Xstrata Coal's business please visit www.xstratacoal.com.