More than 700 jobs have been secured in Central Queensland, following the state government approving a $314.9 million extension to the Ensham Coal Mine near Emerald.
Australia’s mining industry employs around 300,000 workers. According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the number of workers fell by 6,700 (2.2%) over the last year.
The Queensland Government’s latest approval will allow the mine to operate for an additional nine years, tapping into a potential further 88 million tonnes of coal, ensuring future supply to domestic and international markets.
Ensham, first approved by the Australian Government in 2023, is owned by Thungela and has a proven ore reserve of 32 million tonnes, as well as a 34.6 million tonne probable ore reserve.
Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last says Queensland’s coal industry has a “strong” future, with more than 400 coal-fired power stations under construction around the world and global coal demand nearly doubling since 2000.
This news comes following BloombergNEF revealing that 75% of Australia’s long-dominant fleet of coal power plants are expected to retire by 2035, as previously reported.
Australia’s coal fleet, which makes up 45% of the total power generation, has long formed the backbone of Australia’s power system.
However, old age, intensifying competition from low-cost renewable energy, and government decarbonisation targets are driving many coal plants to an early retirement.
According to the Minerals Council of Australia, the nation’s economy relies on coal as a source of affordable, reliable electricity. In 2022-23, coal supplied 62.6% of electricity to the national electricity market, while gas supplied 4.5%, hydro supplied 8.3%, and other renewable energy supplied 24.1%.
Coal is a high-density energy source, providing more than one-third of global electricity and serving as an essential raw material for steel and cement production.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports global coal demand rose to a new all-time high of 8.8 billion tonnes in 2025. This increase comes as consumption rises in countries such as China, India, and Indonesia.
China accounts for 56% of global coal consumption, almost 30% more than the rest of the world combined. One of every three tonnes of coal consumed globally is used in Chinese power plants, making China and its power sector the largest single driver of global coal demand, as reported by IEA.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
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