1.2.2.1.1 Commodore Mine

Commodore is an open-cut mine mainly owned by InterGen and Marubeni, situated approximately 200 km west of Brisbane. The Commodore Mine is the sole supplier of thermal coal to InterGen’s adjacent 850 megawatt Millmerran Power Station (InterGen, 2014). The mine has approximately 3.6 Mt/year production capacity (Downer EDI, 2007). Mining is performed by the contractor, Downer EDI Mining, on behalf of its majority owner, InterGen. No surface or groundwater resources are accessed for water needs: catchment water is collected and stored in sediment dams and recycled water is available from the power station if insufficient overland flow is available (Psi-Delta, 2010, p. 120). Approximately 150 ML of overland flow is used at the mine per year and as coal is not washed, water is only used for dust suppression and irrigation (Psi-Delta, 2010, p. 127). Conveyors across creeks are fully enclosed to prevent dust emissions and spillage into the creek (InterGen, 2014). The coal is mined from the Walloon Coal Measures, typically the Kooroongarra seam which is up to 3 m thick, the Commodore Seam which averages 5.2 m thickness and the Bottom Rider seam which is up to 0.9 m thick. Overburden and waste are stored for later use to backfill pits and to develop the final landform. Progressive rehabilitation is underway (InterGen, 2014). The mine started production in 2002 with an expected lifespan of more than 30 years.

Last updated:
5 January 2018
Thumbnail of the Maranoa-Baloone-Condamine subregion

Product Finalisation date

2014
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