Wollongong Coal is planning to develop its Russell Valle mine without having a plan for how it will minimise greenhouse gas emissions, its air quality plan shows.
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Developing a "comprehensive air quality and greenhouse gas management plan" was one of the conditions recommended by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment if the mine were to be approved.
But that plan, which has been shown to the mine Community Consultative Committee, contains no methods for greenhouse gas abatement or capture, with the miner saying these technologies do not exist.
A Greenhouse Gas and Energy Assessment developed by consultant Umwelt found that the mine would generate about 1.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e) in Scope 1 (direct) emissions over the predicted five-year life of the mine.
This would be from diesel usage, fugitive emissions and gas drainage, and power use.
It would also account for about 9.6 million tonnes of Scope 3 (indirect) emissions, generated by third parties who transport and consume the project's coal products, the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment said in its assessment report for the mine.
However Wollongong Coal's Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Management (AQGGM) plan says there are no measures available to control GHG emissions:
"No established measures are available for controlling fugitive GHG emissions from the mine operations," its plan states. "However, it should be noted that Russell Vale Colliery is a 'low gas' mine."
The mine was described early in the planning process as a "gassy mine" (as are most underground operations in this region) and DPIE recommended a greenhouse gas management plan be developed.
This would "detail measures to minimise GHG emissions during both the construction and operational phases of the project".
Other mines, such as South32's local operations, have been capturing fugitive methane to generate electricity for many years.
Wollongong Coal was asked to comment on these statements and the lack of mitigation measures. No response was received.
Nic Clyde from anti-goal group Lock the Gate said the mine would be "flatulent" with methane.
"This is typical of a dodgy operator like Wollongong Coal - as soon as its polluting coal mine is approved, it seeks to cut corners," he said.
"Wollongong Coal has presented a polluting plan, with no guarantees to mitigate greenhouse emissions. Despite the Independent Planning Commission saying it had imposed conditions that would minimise emissions, this draft GHG plan would allow Wollongong coal to vent potent methane gas straight to the atmosphere."