CENTENNIAL is no stranger to climate change activism.
An approval by the NSW Planning and Assessment Committee to allow Centennial to expand its Springvale mine was overturned by the NSW Court of Appeal in 2017.
The 4nature activist group was concerned the expansion, near to heritage-listed swamps in the Blue Mountains National Park, would pollute water entering catchments feeding into Sydney’s water supply.
The NSW Parliament subsequently passed legislation allowing the continued operation of the Springvale mine, thus securing 600 jobs for the Lithgow area, while also maintaining water quality in the Sydney catchment area.
Springvale is the sole provider of coal to the Mount Piper power station, which provides around 11pc of NSW’s electricity.
Centennial’s coal fuels about 40pc of NSW’s coal-fired electricity and the company currently sells about 35pc of its coal into the export market.
The company is a supplier of thermal coal to the domestic and international markets, with its export capability growing, and customers based in Taiwan, Korea and China.
Centennial currently has more than 1600 employees and five operating coal mines in NSW, with coal exported through ports at Newcastle and Port Kembla in NSW.
Established in 1989 and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in 1994 for $20m, Centennial Coal has grown to be a top S&P/ASX 100-listed company.
Banpu Public Company Limited took over the company in September 2010, with Centennial’s market capitalisation reaching about $2.5b.
Today, Centennial is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Banpu, the Asia-Pacific region’s leading independent energy producer.
From humble beginnings in Thailand, Banpu now operates in the coal power and renewable energy sector in ten countries.
These countries are Thailand, Indonesia, China, Australia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Singapore, Japan, the US and Vietnam.
Sustainability and Vision 2020
According to the Centennial’s latest Sustainability Report, Centennial produced 13.89mt of coal in 2018 and contributed $87m to NSW Government royalties.
The company achieved a 6pc decrease in total recordable injury frequency rates and abated about 700,000t of carbon dioxide.
It also contributed $529m to the local economy and used local suppliers for 42pc of goods and services.
Centennial used mine water for 59pc of its total water use and discharged water equivalent to more than 8000 Olympic swimming pools.
It also employed 1666 people in 2018.
Centennial Coal is committed to its Vision 2020 and its sustainability strategy, in line with Banpu’s policy of pursuing a greener and smarter strategy:
Maintain a reserve base equivalent to 20 years’ mining: the company says this target remains on-track.
Implement the Step Change Productivity initiative 100pc: this project has been completed and has now evolved to the Digital Transformation program.
Enhance safety culture dimensions by 20pc: this benchmark no longer runs as Centennial has pursued new safety culture benchmarks through the Keil Centre.
Lower greenhouse gas emissions by 25pc (compared to 2010): this target has proved challenging for Centennial with the nature of underground coal mining and significant increases in gas in short periods of time.
The company invested in gas management system upgrades at Mandalong, its gassiest mine, and continues to trial ventilation air methane research programmes.
Rehabilitate 50pc of all available and suitable land (compared to 2010): this was achieved in 2017, with another 49ha of land rehabilitated in 2018, mainly at Charbon.
Increase community contributions by 100pc: this target was reached, along with efforts to build capacity within the community rather than providing donations, such as assisting with the writing of funding applications.
Double training and development efforts: the company will be changing this goal to better reflect Centennial’s commitment to attracting, developing, motivating and retaining a diverse workforce.
Springvale
Springvale is an underground coal mine in the Western Coalfields near Lithgow, NSW, and it commenced operations in 1992.
It is currently operated by Centennial in a 50pc joint venture with SK Kores Australia.
Using longwall mining methods, coal is transferred by conveyor to surface facilities, where it is then transported by dedicated overland conveyors to Springvale Coal Services.
The mine has production approval for 5.5mtpa and the coal is processed predominantly for domestic use at the Mount Piper power station, with the balance exported via Lidsdale Siding (train loading facility).
Springvale mine has over 25 years of continued support of the Lithgow and surrounding communities through sponsorship of local organisations, schools, and events as well as providing local employment opportunities.
The Western Community Consultative Committee (CCC) meets twice a year to provide a platform for open discussions between representatives of Springvale, the community and other key stakeholder’s on issues directly relating to the mines’ operations and environmental performance.
The Springvale Coal Services operation is located near Blackmans Flat, approximately 8km from Springvale mine.
The facility processes Springvale’s coal utilising screening and sizing plant, an overland conveyor system and coal preparation plant.
The majority of processed coal is transferred from the facility direct to Mount Piper power station.
