International mining giant Glencore should ditch its proposed Valeria greenfield thermal coal mine. This mine flies in the face of the company’s own carbon reduction goals and those of the Queensland Government.
If built, Glencore’s Valeria coal mine would:
- Cover over 10,000 hectares including areas of state forest and strategic cropping land.
- Involve the construction of six open cut coal pits, a mine access road, rail corridor, waste dumps, and tailings storage.
- Threaten endangered animals including the koala and greater glider.
- Mine right beside the magnificent Theresa Creek and several other creek systems.
- Cause groundwater drawdown.
- Mine 16 million tonnes of mostly thermal coal each year for 37 years.
While Glencore has yet to estimate the expected carbon emissions from Valeria, using internationally accepted modelling, it’s likely the project’s fugitive greenhouse gas emissions (mostly methane) alone would be around 13.6 million tonnes.
Environmental Advocacy in Central Queensland director, Dr Coral Rowston, said “Glencore’s proposal was impossible under the company’s own stated climate goals and the Queensland Palaszczuk Government’s emission reduction targets”.
“You can’t keep building or approving new coal mines and expect to somehow magically reduce carbon emissions”.
Glencore claims it has a commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and a 50% reduction in emissions by 2035.
“Sorry, but that’s not possible if it keeps opening new greenfield thermal coal mines.
“Likewise, if the Queenland Government wants to actually meet its emissions targets of 30% emissions below 2005 levels by 2030, then it is going to need to crack down on the huge plumes of methane belching up from Bowen Basin coal mines. It shouldn’t even be considering approving any new coal mines”, said Dr Rowston
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