Metallurgical Coal

Metallurgical Coal primarily produces and markets high quality hard coking coals for the international steel industry. In addition, we supply a wide range of other coal qualities to satisfy specific customer requirements. Production is from our low cost asset base located in Queensland (predominantly open cut mines owned in an alliance with Mitsubishi Development Pty Ltd ) and New South Wales (100 per cent underground operations).

Metallurgical coal is an essential raw material in the production of steel which is used in buildings, household items and other goods and services that modern societies need.

BHP Billiton Metallurgical Coal’s operations are strategically located in areas with seaborne access to key steel producing regions, delivering logistical advantages to our customers. We have access to dedicated deepwater ports allowing the use of large capacity vessels to further build on regional logistic advantages.

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

Hubie van Dalsen, President, Metallurgical Coal

Hubie joined BHP Billiton as President of Metallurgical Coal in February 2009, following a long career with Rio Tinto.  Most recently he was Managing Director of Rio Tinto Coal Australia and Managing Director of Rio Tinto Aluminium’s mining and refining division. Hubie has a degree in mechanical engineering from  the University of Pretoria and an M.Sc. in Finance from the University of London (London Business School).

BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance

The BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) owns and operates seven Bowen Basin mines – Goonyella Riverside, Broadmeadow, Peak Downs, Saraji, Norwich Park, Gregory Crinum, and Blackwater – and the Hay Point terminal near Mackay.  The mines are located in the coal-rich Bowen Basin of Central Queensland, which covers an area of 75,000km² 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 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.

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 is planned, commencing 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.‬