Phone

+61 7 3031 7777
Call us: (Australia)+61 7 3031 7777

Environment

We are focused on extracting high-quality metallurgical coal in an environmentally responsible way. Coal mining is one of the most environmentally regulated industries in the world and it is vital that we consistently meet or exceed relevant regulatory standards. We expect to leave our sites in the same condition or better than when we acquired them.

At Coronado, we believe that responsible environmental stewardship is fundamental to our business. We are dedicated to continuously monitoring and managing the environmental impacts of our operations to enable a sustainable future for the communities in which we work – both during and after our operations cease. In doing so, we recognise the value of ongoing consultation, the promotion of environmental awareness, and fostering the individual commitment to robust environmental practices among our employees, contractors, and business partners. Coronado implements tailored Environmental Management Systems at each operation and strives for continual improvement in environmental performance.

Climate

The world’s reliance on metallurgical coal remains crucial. As steel demand grows, metallurgical coal is positioned to continue to play an integral role in infrastructure development and the energy transition globally.

Coronado addresses climate-related transitional risks by staying informed about developments in the climate-change stakeholder and regulation landscape. We also continue to implement emissions reduction initiatives to support its stakeholders in meeting their emissions goals. For climate-related physical risks Coronado implements several measures ensuring preparedness and resilience across various scenarios.

See our emission reduction projects

Biodiversity, rehabilitation and land use

Australia

The Curragh complex operates in accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, which promotes and mandates ecologically sustainable development through the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

We currently manage 1,002 hectares of vegetation offsets to balance the impact of our open-cut operations and ensure habitat availability for key local species. These offsets routinely undergo bio-condition assessments that measure the functionality of the ecosystem against the biodiversity values of a reference site.

At our Curragh open-cut mines, areas significantly disturbed by mining activities are rehabilitated to ensure that the remaining landform is safe, stable and non-polluting.

The rehabilitation methods and techniques are a result of extensive research and monitoring carried out at Curragh over time. These include:

  • a landform design that emulates natural slopes and drainage where possible
  • water management structures where required to manage surface water run-off and prevent erosion
  • soil and seeding techniques to increase rainfall infiltration and minimise erosion
  • use of a broadcast seeder to encourage revegetation.

Once completed, rehabilitation is monitored on a regular basis as part of a Rehabilitation Management and Monitoring Plan, which has been in place since 2002.

United States

At Coronado’s U.S. sites, endangered plants and animals are protected on a federal level by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife service (USFWS) as well as on a state level by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR), the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), and similar offices in Pennsylvania.

Interactive mapping tools are used to identify plants and animal species within specific distances of Coronado’s proposed project areas in the U.S. so that avoidance or protective measures are considered early in the evaluation and design process. U.S. regulatory agencies maintain lists of waters that are protected and assigned more stringent/protective water quality limitations.

Areas of specific plant and animal habitat are defined in the regions of Coronado’s U.S. operations. For example, Guyandotte Crayfish are a species of interest in the vicinity of our Logan complex and Big Sandy Crayfish are of interest in the area of our Buchanan complex.

We hold permits that cover more than 9,000 acres in Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia. Each permit is carefully evaluated to determine pre-mining biological conditions regarding water, flora and fauna. The post-mining land-use plan is then developed to ensure the land is restored to equal or better use.

During mining, testing such as water sampling, benthic studies and fish tissue sampling are conducted to ensure protection of the ecosystem. Each operation complies with the approved reclamation standards, which limit disturbance associated with each permit. Prior to bond release, each permit is evaluated to ensure it meets the permit regulatory release requirements such as water quality, land configuration (erosion), vegetation, and tree survival.

Water

Australia

Curragh mine received a risk ranking of “moderate” from the Department of Environment and Science for the annual submission of the pre-wet season Regional Operational Water Identification tool. This is a favourable outcome and is largely due to the considerable storage capacity of the site.

United States

Above average rainfall in recent years has resulted in flooding and increased discharges in some areas of our operations. In response, we have explored and implemented passive water treatment options to reduce chemical usage as much as possible.

Air

Australia

Our Curragh Complex manages emissions to air in accordance with relevant legal and other requirements and establishes objectives and targets to continually improve management and performance. An Emissions Management Plan is in place and provides a strategic framework for how aspects relating to emissions are managed at Curragh Complex with the overriding objective to mitigate impacts from noise, dust, vibration and odour, inclusive of an associated monitoring program.

United States

Engineers at each of our operations actively monitor emissions and air quality and ensure high standards of compliance are met.

Examples of our emissions reduction and air quality improvement projects include: emissions reduction at Buchanan complex, and the introduction of CleanSpace EX respirators and personal dust monitors at our Buchanan and Logan mine complexes. 

These programs have been acknowledged by several agencies, including the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and the West Virginia Coal Association. 

Waste

Australia

In 2022, the Curragh complex completed the construction of a new in-pit landfill cell. This additional cell provides continued on-site general waste disposal capability. Having an on-site landfill reduces costs associated with disposal and reduces strain on the Blackwater township’s above-ground landfill.

In order to increase the quantity of metal that is recovered for recycling, the Curragh site team initiated a plan to regularly collect scrap metal. The first scrap metal muster was initiated in 2022 and, as a result, Curragh has been able to send thousands of tonnes of scrap metal offisite for recycling.

At the Curragh complex and in the Brisbane office, recycling initiatives include the collection of co-mingled recycling, cardboard, soft paper, e-waste, ink cartridge and battery recycling. Where possible, IT equipment that is no longer required within our organisation is either sent to a specialised e-waste recycling centre, or if there is still use left in the equipment, donated to churches, schools or other charitable organisations. 

Tailings

The Curragh complex has two inactive tailings storage facilities (TSF) and one active in-pit TSF. All three are inspected by a registered professional engineer of Queensland annually, with guidance provided on best-practice management and maintenance of the structures. An initiative to raise the height of an embankment to increase the life of storage of the active TSF was completed in 2024.

United States

Our U.S. operations continue to seek opportunities to reduce waste in landfills and to increase the amount of scrap metal recycling achieved.

As with our Australian operations, the U.S. operations participate in office recycling including the collection of co-mingled recycling, cardboard, soft paper, e-waste, ink cartridge and battery recycling. Where possible, IT equipment that is no longer required within our organisation is either sent to a specialised e-waste recycling centre or, if there is still use left in the equipment, donated to churches, schools or other charitable organisations.

Tailings

In the U.S., Coronado has five TSFs in total, with one active at each complex. Logan complex has an inactive combined refuse facility.

Our TSFs are inspected and certified by company representatives on a regular basis and are also inspected by respective state and federal regulatory agencies. The U.S. is required to inspect and certify all refuse TSFs areas every quarter for the state agencies and annually with the federal agency. The high-hazard facilities require inspection every seven days.