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BHP's Coal Plans

BHP is one of the three biggest mining companies in the world, with mines across the world that dig coal, iron ore, copper, coal, gold, nickel, and uranium. BHP operates six huge coal mines, five in Queensland and one in NSW.

BHP has some of the biggest proposed coal mine expansions in Australia and the world, all in Queensland’s Bowen Basin including:

  • Peak downs: 1,130 million tonnes of coal, 3 billion tonnes of climate pollution and mining coal for 93 years out to 2116
  • Saraji (East and Grevillea): 110 million and 33 million tonnes of coal respectively, at least 300 million tonnes of pollution and mining coal until 2045 and 2055 respectively.
  • Caval Ridge: 159 million tonnes of coal, 438 million tonnes of climate pollution, mining coal to 2056

These expansions (including Caval Ridge that was approved late in 2024) would dig 1.4 billion tonnes of coal, release almost 4 billions tonnes of pollution and drain 933 billion litres of water. 

That’s a decade worth of Australia's total emissions and at least 5 years worth of Brisbane's annual household water use - all to make super-profits for BHP. 

After repeated extreme weather disasters hitting Queenslanders, and decades of impacts of coal mining hitting regional communities and water resources, Queensland can not afford BHP’s polluting coal expansions. 

While BHP seeks approval for these monster coal expansions, it’s telling its shareholders and investors that it’s serious about reducing its emissions.

BHP says its Climate Transition Action Plan (CTAP) “shows we are serious about addressing the impacts of climate change” and “We will continue to support the aims of the Paris Agreement to hold global average temperature increase to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C”. Instead, BHP’s Climate Plan fails to adequately outline how it will reduce its climate pollution and the cuts it does make relies heavily on unproven Carbon Capture and Storage technology for steel production. 

BHP has successfully greenwashed its coal operations and expansions, but emitting 4 billion tonnes of climate pollution and digging coal for another 93 years is a dangerous threat to Queensland’s land, water and climate.  

Increasingly, investors and companies have committed to align with the Paris Climate Agreement to limit global temperatures to 1.5°. BHP and many of its investors have made this commitment, yet BHP’s huge coal expansions and its lobbying efforts that slow Paris-aligned climate policies in Australia means it’s breaking its commitment to stop the worst impacts of climate change. 

BHP’s Climate plan does not clearly explain how its Queensland coal projects and expansions fit with its goals to reduce emissions. Analysis by ACCR suggests that BHP’s planned coal production is far from being aligned with the Paris Agreement’s climate targets.

Peak Downs - 3 billion tonnes of pollution, mining to 2116

The Peak Downs continuation project is the biggest single coal expansion in Australia. BHP wants to dig another 1.4 billion tonnes of coal for another 96 years to the year 2116. That would add 3 billion tonnes of pollution to the atmosphere. BHP plans to clear 2,108 hectares of koala habitat, divert local creeks and draw down regional groundwater sources. 

Saraji East and Grevillea Pit - at least 300 million tonnes of pollution, mining to 2055

BHP’s Saraji East and Grevillea pit coal expansions would clear 1,160 ha of koala habitat and 748 hectares of habitat for the greater glider. The expansion will also impact local creeks. Independent experts have raised concerns about BHP’s plan for the mines’ final voids which could contaminate and drain groundwater resources and impact downstream ecology. *

Caval Ridge - 438 million tonnes of pollution, mining to 2056

BHP’s Caval Ridge expansion will extend the footprint of the mine by hundreds of hectares, impacting on important ornamental snake and squatter pigeon habitat as well as king bluegrass and brigalow vegetation communities. These are threatened and vulnerable species that have already been significantly impacted by coal mines in the Bowen Basin.

 

Surrounding waterways are also home to the white-throated snapping turtle and the Fitzroy River turtle which would be threatened by the mine affected water BHP are proposing to release into Cherwell Creek. Cherwell creek is part of the Fitzroy River Basin, the largest catchment of water flowing into the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.


Sediment plume where water from the Fitzroy River mixes with sea water.

SPOTLIGHT: BHP’s expansions will destroy koala and greater glider habitat

In June 2025, Lock the Gate drone operators visited the proposed Peak Downs expansion area. We spotted a greater glider right next to BHP’s current Peak Downs mine pit - its home will be destroyed if BHP’s mine expansion gets approval.

Greater Gliders don’t move across big areas to make their homes, so when a mine destroys their trees, they are unable to shift.