A Glencore and Yancoal-owned joint venture has submitted plans to expand a Hunter Valley coal mine - but has failed to include any measures to reduce greenhouse pollution from the gassy project as required under new NSW Government policy.
If approved, Hunter Valley Operations “modification 8” would double direct emissions at the mine in just two short years to more than a million tonnes of CO2-e.
New regulations under The NSW Environmental Protection Agency’s “Guide for Large Emitters” policy require applications for large-polluting projects to avoid greenhouse gas emissions as a high priority and to also set reduction goals.
However, Glencore and Yancoal appear to have thumbed their noses at this requirement, and in their application (pg23) use vague language, saying “HVO intends to continue to consider and assess the feasibility of mitigation measures”.
The NSW Government is on the cusp of determining the two-year expansion, with a decision due in the coming weeks.
If approved, it wouldn’t be the first time HVO has operated without any real emissions mitigation strategies - the coal mine came under fire a year and a half ago after it was revealed it had been operating under an emissions abatement plan with no actual emissions abatement.
Lock the Gate Alliance NSW Coordinator Nic Clyde said Glencore and Yancoal appeared to be treating the people of NSW and the government “like mugs”.
“In direct violation of new NSW Government requirements, Glencore and Yancoal have failed to propose any measures to mitigate emissions for this new expansion that would in fact double direct greenhouse gas pollution from the coal mine by 2026.
“The world is in the throes of the climate crisis. Fossil fuel-driven, record breaking heat waves, floods, bushfires, and storms have ravaged Australian communities once again this summer, causing loss of life and multi billion dollar clean up bills.
“The short, but high impact, Hunter Valley Operations expansion will drive more extreme weather events that are wreaking havoc with Australian communities, and clearly does not comply with the NSW Government's new requirements.
“The coal sector isn’t above the law. We are all expected to abide by the law, and coal companies are no exception. It’s vital that the NSW Planning Minister, Paul Scully, ensures the new guidelines are applied to everyone, including Glencore and Yancoal.”
ENDS
Background:
The direct emissions this modification would create, from both HVO North and South, would be 570,000 tonnes this year and 960,000 tonnes in 2026. See pages 10 and 11. This is equivalent to the average annual emissions of 332,600 cars in Australia, and will see emissions almost double what they were in 2022/23.
The NSW Environmental Protection Agency’s “Guide for Large Emitters” policy, finalised last month, states:
- The EPA expects proponents to apply the mitigation hierarchy shown in Figure 1, to make genuine efforts to first avoid then reduce emissions.
- “Proponents are required to set an overarching long-term scope-1 GHG emission reduction goal for the project that represents a meaningful contribution to the emissions reduction objectives of the State.”
As well, the Net Zero Commission has recently raised concerns that increasing greenhouse pollution from coal mining projects are putting the state’s emissions reduction goals in jeopardy and may also put pressure on other sectors of the economy to reduce at a faster rate.
In its 2024 annual report, the commission states that (p 43)
“….there is a risk of increased emissions associated with a sizeable pipeline of coal mine extension and expansion projects that are currently awaiting determination through the planning process. Any emissions increases associated with extended or expanded coal projects would require other sectors to make greater emissions reductions if the state is to meet its emissions reduction targets”.
Table 1: Scope 1 GHG emissions at HVO - FY17 to FY23 vs projected
|
Year |
HVO Scope 1 GHGs (North and South) |
|
2016-17 |
548,415 |
|
2017-18 |
615,950 |
|
2018-19 |
574,927 |
|
2019-20 |
562,470 |
|
2020-21 |
563,127 |
|
2021-22 |
577,874 |
|
2022-23 |
|
|
2025 |
160,000 (North) + 410,000 (South) = 570,000 |
|
2026 |
220,000 (North) + 740,000 (South) = 960,000 |
Data: Historical Scope 1 emissions from CER, Safeguard facility reported emissions data. Projections for 2025 and 2026 from Table 3.2 Revised estimated GHG emissions from HVO North and Table 3.3 Revised estimated GHG emissions from HVO South, HVO North Modification 8, Submissions Report, Prepared for HV Operations Pty Ltd, January 2025