$662m QLD Centurion Mine expansion declared a coordinated project

The northern extension of Peabody Energy’s Centurion Mine has been declared a coordinated project by the Queensland Government. 

This is the first proposed coal mine development declared a coordinated project by the Crisafulli Government. The declaration is a major vote of confidence in the State’s resources sector and backs Queensland’s coal jobs. 

“After Labor’s decade of decline, the Crisafulli Government is supercharging job-creating economic development in our mining sector across regional Queensland. 

“This coordinated project declaration of Peabody’s Centurion Mine extension demonstrates Queensland’s resources industry is well and truly open for business under the Crisafulli Government. 

“This declaration will fast-track approvals by delivering a coordinated, whole-of-government streamlined assessment process to manage the project,” Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said. 

“This declaration will ensure a comprehensive assessment of the project’s environmental, social, and economic impacts. 

“My office will work with Peabody to ensure all approvals required for this project are achieved on time,” QLD Coordinator-General Gerard Coggan said. 

The $662 million Centurion North Development project, located about 40 kilometres north of Moranbah, is proposed to extend mining from the southern area into the adjoining northern area as part of the full Centurion Mine plan. 

The mine is expected to export premium quality hard coking coal to steelmaking customers through to 2055. 

Centurion Mine is anticipated to produce up to 7.1Mtpa of run-of-mine coal as well as extract about 10 petajoules of coal seam gas to safely manage underground methane levels, provide power to the mine and boost the State’s gas supply. 

This project is estimated to create approximately 525 Central Queensland mining jobs. 

“After Labor’s anti-mining policies put Queensland jobs at risk, the Crisafulli Government is fast-tracking approvals, coordinating decision making and sending investors a clear message that Queensland is open for business. 

“The project is a major vote of confidence in our world-class coal industry that delivers certainty and security to more than 500 Queensland mining jobs. 

“Our message to industry is clear: if you’re willing to invest in Queensland and create regional jobs, we’ll give you the certainty you need to get on with it,” Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last said. 

“We thank the Crisafulli Government for recognising the strategic importance of this cornerstone steelmaking coal project, which builds on the planned February 2026 startup of longwall production for Centurion’s southern district. 

“Steelmaking coal remains essential for producing the steel that underpins modern life, from homes and bridges to hospitals and renewable energy infrastructure. 

“Centurion is also advancing our safety and sustainability commitments by extracting coal seam gas ahead of mining to improve safety and cut emissions, reusing the gas to power the operations and converting surplus into LNG to boost regional supply,” Peabody Energy President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Grech said. 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; Industry Queensland; Centurion Mine; ABC News