Coal

Our globally diversified coal business produces thermal coal primarily for use in the electric power generation industry and high quality hard coking coal for use in the international and domestic steel industry.

With operations strategically located in areas with seaborne access, we deliver logistical advantages to our customers.  We have access to dedicated deep-water ports allowing the use of large capacity vessels to further build on regional logistic advantages.

We have eight thermal coal operations located in South Africa, Australia, the United States and South America.  In addition to our seaborne supply into the Atlantic and Pacific markets, we service domestic markets in South Africa, Australia and the United States.

Metallurgical coal has a total of eleven operations and a further two green-fields mines under construction in Australia. Our assets produce high quality hard coking coal which is an essential raw material in the production of steel.  This high quality hard coking coal is produced from our low cost asset bases in Queensland (predominantly open cut mines owned in an alliance with Mitsubishi Development Pty Ltd and Mitsui) and New South Wales (100 per cent underground operations).

With long life reserves, a strong portfolio of undeveloped resources and key infrastructure, our Coal business has the flexibility to continually expand our production capacity in line with customer needs.

Dean Dalla Valle, President, Coal

Dean Dalla Valle was appointed President, Coal in May 2013.  Dean has 36 years’ experience in BHP Billiton.  He was previously the President of the Uranium business for three years and prior to that held the positions of Asset President Olympic Dam, Asset President of the Cannington silver mine and Vice President Ports for Iron Ore.  Dean was also the General Manager of the Appin, Tower and Westcliff Collieries for Illawarra Coal.  Dean has an electrical engineering background and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wollongong, NSW. 

BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance, Australia 

The BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) owns and operates seven Bowen Basin mines – Goonyella Riverside, Broadmeadow, Peak Downs, Saraji, Norwich Park (production ceased), Gregory Crinum and Blackwater – and the Hay Point Coal Terminal near Mackay.  The mines are located in the coal-rich Bowen Basin of Central Queensland, which covers an area of 75,000 square kilometres of Permian Age marine and freshwater sediments.  With the exception of the Crinum and Broadmeadow underground longwall operations, our mines are open-cut, using dragline and truck/shovel fleets for overburden removal.  BHP Billiton owns 50 per cent of BMA.

BHP Billiton Mitsui Coal, Australia 

BHP Billiton Mitsui Coal (BMC) operates two mines in the Bowen Basin: South Walker Creek Mine and Poitrel Mine. 

South Walker Creek Mine is located on the eastern flank of the Bowen Basin, 35 kilometres west of the town of Nebo and 132 kilometres west of the Hay Point port facilities.  Poitrel Mine is situated south-east of the town of Moranbah and began open-cut operations in October 2006. BHP Billiton owns 80 per cent of BMC.

Cerrejón, Colombia

Cerrejón is Colombia's largest coal exporting company.  It is located in La Guajira Peninsula in north east Colombia, South America.  Cerrejón is owned by a joint venture partnership between Anglo American, BHP Billiton and GlencoreXstrata (33.3 per cent shareholding each).

Energy Coal South Africa

BHP Billiton Energy Coal South Africa (Pty) Limited (BECSA) produces energy coal for the South African domestic and export markets.  BECSA is 90 per cent owned by BHP Billiton, 2 per cent is owned by its employees through an Employee Share Ownership Programme (ESOP) while the remaining 8 per cent is owned by a Broad Based Black Economic Empowered (BEE) consortium led by Pembani Holdings.  BECSA is located near the towns eMalahleni (Witbank) and Middelburg in the coalfields of the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa and consists of four primary coal mining operations, Khutala Colliery, Klipspruit Colliery, Middelburg Colliery and Wolvekrans Colliery, as well as the three processing plants of BECSA Coal Processing.

Illawarra Coal, Australia

Illawarra Coal operates three underground coal mines in the southern coalfields of New South Wales – Appin, West Cliff and Dendrobium; and two coal preparation plants – West Cliff Coal Preparation Plant and Dendrobium Coal Preparation Plant. The Port Kembla Coal Terminal is operated by Illawarra Coal on behalf of a consortium of partners (Illawarra Coal, Xstrata Coal, Peabody, Tahmoor Coal and Centennial Coal) and leased from the New South Wales Government.  To find out more about Illawarra Coal go to our Regulatory Information section.  Illawarra Coal is 100 per cent owned by BHP Billiton.

Indomet Coal Project

IndoMet Coal Project (IMC) holds metallurgical and energy coal deposits in seven coal contracts of work (CCoWs) located in Kalimantan.  A phased approach to development commenced in early 2012, with construction of a road and associated infrastructure in support of future mine development.‬

BHP Billiton owns 75 per cent of IMC.

New Mexico Coal, United States

New Mexico Coal is located near Farmington, New Mexico, in the United States and is 100 per cent owned by BHP Billiton.  The mines are located on or near the Navajo Nation Reservation.

New South Wales Energy Coal, Australia

Mt Arthur Coal

BHP Billiton’s open cut thermal coal mine at Mt Arthur is the largest individual coal production site in the NSW Hunter Valley. Mt Arthur Coal currently produces approximately 16 million tonnes each year for local and international customers in the Energy sector.  Mt Arthur Coal is part of NSW Energy Coal which also manages the Caroona Coal Project in the Gunnedah Basin and BHP Billiton’s 35 per cent shareholding in the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group.  To find out more about Mt Arthur Coal go to our Regulatory Information section.

Caroona Coal Project

BHP Billiton is conducting exploration activities at Caroona in the Gunnedah Basin in north western NSW to potentially develop an underground thermal coal mine.  BHP Billiton is working closely in consultation with the community to address concerns about the impacts of any proposed coal mine, in particular to the region’s water supply and quality and agricultural productivity.  The Caroona Coal Project is part of NSW Energy Coal which also manages Mt Arthur Coal in the NSW Upper Hunter region and BHP Billiton’s 35 per cent shareholding in the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group.  To find out more about the Caroona Coal Project go to our Regulatory Information section.