Australian coal miner’s plans may double its emissions

If the planned and proposed projects go forward, it would roughly double Whitehaven’s annual methane emissions from this year to more than 64,000 tonnes by 2030, according to estimates from energy think tank Ember. — Reuters

Canberra: Whitehaven Coal Ltd’s plans to expand its mining operations could double the Australian company’s methane emissions by the end of this decade, according to an analysis from energy think tank Ember, undermining the nation’s global climate commitments.

If the planned and proposed projects go forward, it would roughly double Whitehaven’s annual methane emissions from this year to more than 64,000 tonnes by 2030, according to estimates from Ember.

Between now and 2050, those mines would spew 1.2 million tonnes of this greenhouse gas - an amount that would have a short term warming impact roughly equivalent to annual emissions from 56 million cars, according to Ember’s report.

Whitehaven’s ambitious expansion plans would potentially put it at odds with Canberra’s commitment to slash releases of the potent greenhouse gas as a signatory to the Global Methane Pledge. The international initiative aims to cut global methane emissions 30% by 2030 from levels at the start of the decade.

Whitehaven has four active mines and said in an email that federal approval to expand its Narrabri project is being finalised. — Bloomberg