Mining Company Unveils $50 Million Boost to Queensland Coal Exports

Mining company Bravus will beef up its coal output in the Queensland town of Carmichael.

A coal train is seen moving parallel to the A4 Highway in the Clermont and Blackwater region in Clermont, Australia, on April 29, 2019. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

An Australian mining company has announced a $50 million (US$32 million) capital investment to increase coal production in central Queensland.

Bravus Mining and Resources, part of the global Adani group, will ramp up production at its Carmichael mine near Clermont, 380 kilometres inland from the regional city of Rockhampton.

The move will see coal production increase by a third over the next four years, eventually producing 16 million tonnes per year.

“Our investment in the infrastructure to support this growth means more contracts for local businesses and suppliers and more high-paying mining industry jobs for people living in places like Clermont, Rockhampton, Mackay, Bowen, Townsville, and Cairns,” Bravus Mining and Resources Chief Operating Officer Mick Crowe said in a statement.

“It also means Carmichael will remain strategically positioned to efficiently deliver high-quality Queensland thermal coal to the global seaborne coal market at scale.”

Bravus said international demand was growing for the type of thermal coal mined at Carmichael.

In India alone, coal demand increased by 4 percent in 2024.

The latest financial allocation will help to expand the miners’ village at Carmichael, provide a new dam, allow construction of a new rail maintenance hub plus additional infrastructure and engineering works.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the state government was working to improve trade and investment in the state.

“We are sending a strong signal that Queensland is open for business because we are serious about delivering a better lifestyle through a stronger economy,” he said in a statement.

“We are taking important steps to rebuild Queensland’s reputation as a place to invest, because we back the future of our regional communities who rely on a thriving resources sector.”

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last said the government was focused on creating an environment that encouraged confidence in industry.

“More than 400 coal-fired power stations are under construction around the world, mostly in China, India, and South-East Asia, and Queensland’s Galilee Basin is well positioned to meet that demand,” he said.

“Queensland has the world’s best coal reserves, and this expansion is proof that by giving industry certainty, we can attract the right investment to create long-term jobs for mining families and keep our coal communities strong.”

Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki said it was “about a stable and calm government working on driving greater investment into the state.”

Bravus currently employs around 2,000 Queenslanders in its operations, and has spent $7 billion in the state since 2010.