Fatal collision at Central Queensland coal site
A worker died and another was seriously injured after their vehicle was struck by a giant mining truck at a Central Queensland coal site, according to ABC News. ABC News described the second worker as having sustained serious injuries in the incident. The specific mine operator and the identities of those involved were not identified in the available reporting.
Yancoal quarterly production hits record
Yancoal reported attributable saleable coal production of 10.8 million tonnes (Mt) for the June quarter, up 20 per cent from 9Mt in the March quarter and 15 per cent higher than the same period in 2025, Mining Magazine Australia reported. First-half attributable saleable production reached a record 19.8Mt, five per cent ahead of the previous corresponding period. Chief executive officer Sharif Burra said the company is on target to exceed last year's record production and deliver in the upper half of its 2026 guidance range of 36.5–40.5Mt.
Operational and pricing performance
Quarter-on-quarter saleable production rose 23 per cent at Moolarben in New South Wales and 34 per cent at Mount Thorley Warkworth, while Yarrabee recorded a 75 per cent increase, according to Mining Magazine Australia. Hunter Valley Operations held production at its March-quarter level of 3.7Mt. Attributable coal sales climbed 41 per cent quarter-on-quarter to 11.6Mt, including 9.8Mt of thermal coal and 1.8Mt of metallurgical coal, with an average realised coal price of $160 per tonne, nine per cent above the March quarter. Realised thermal coal prices rose 11 per cent to $149 per tonne, while metallurgical coal rose three per cent to $219 per tonne.
Kestrel acquisition advances
Yancoal is progressing its proposed acquisition of an 80 per cent interest in Queensland's Kestrel coal mine, valued at up to US$2.4 billion, after securing Foreign Investment Review Board approval, Mining Magazine Australia reported. Completion is targeted towards the end of the September quarter. The transaction would add a Bowen Basin operation with an expected 25-year mine life and deepen Yancoal's exposure to premium hard-coking coal used in steelmaking, according to Burra.
Ashton mine closure planned
Yancoal said it expects to cease operations at Ashton from early 2028 due to technical, geotechnical and economic challenges, with development activities set to conclude in early 2027 before longwall mining finishes the following year, according to Mining Magazine Australia. The approaching closure sharpens the strategic importance of portfolio renewal as Yancoal moves ahead with the Kestrel acquisition.
Next milestones
Kestrel acquisition completion is targeted towards the end of the September quarter, pending final conditions, Mining Magazine Australia reported. Investigations into the Central Queensland collision remain ongoing according to ABC News reporting.
Share this article
