Ulan Coal achieves sign-off for 52-hectares of rehabilitation

Media statement

Fifty-two hectares of formerly mined land at Glencore’s Ulan Coal operation now provides habitat for a diverse range of native animals and plants.

More than 130 native wildlife species have been recorded since rehabilitation was completed, including the endangered Painted Honeyeater and several other threatened species.

The rehabilitation - equivalent to almost 90 football fields - has achieved sign-off from the NSW Resources Regulator after meeting the agreed completion criteria.

Ulan Environment & Community Manager, Robyn Stoney, said thanks to progressive rehabilitation, the former open cut mining area is now a thriving habitat.

“Our detailed monitoring programs have recorded eight species of endangered birds including the Painted Honeyeater and three species of endangered bats,” Robyn said.

“The rehabilitation process began with 10 native plant species in the original seed mix and our monitoring has now recorded more than 45 more plant species in the area.

“Trees have grown to around 10 metres tall and an understorey has developed, including groundcovers and moss that are indicative of successive regeneration and healthy soils.”

Progressive rehabilitation at Ulan began in the early 1980s. Government sign-off is a positive example of reaching post-mining completion criteria with appropriate rehabilitation, continued monitoring and maintenance where needed to produce a self-sustaining ecosystem.

The certification for Ulan follows the sign-off of areas at Glencore’s Westside site, near Newcastle in New South Wales, and Rolleston and Newlands operations in Queensland’s Bowen Basin.

For further information, please contact:

Media

Allyn Hamonet
m: +61 418 228 075
e: Allyn Hamonet

Elise Pfeiffer
m: +61 408 095 530
e: Elise Pfeiffer

Notes for editors

About Glencore

Glencore is one of the world’s largest global diversified natural resource companies and a major producer and marketer of more than 90 commodities. The Group's operations comprise about 150 mining and metallurgical sites, oil production assets and agricultural facilities.

With a strong footprint in both established and emerging regions for natural resources, Glencore's industrial and marketing activities are supported by a global network of more than 90 offices located in over 50 countries.

Glencore's customers are industrial consumers, such as those in the automotive, steel, power generation, oil and food processing. We also provide financing, logistics and other services to producers and consumers of commodities. Glencore's companies employ around 158,000 people, including contractors.

Glencore is proud to be a member of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights and the International Council on Mining and Metals. We are an active participant in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

About Ulan Coal Mine

The Ulan Coal Mine complex, located northeast of Mudgee in the Mid-Western Region of New South Wales, includes both open cut and underground mining operations. The mine has approval to operate until 2033.

Coal deposits at Ulan were first worked in the 1920s with the first underground mine producing coal in 1942 and the second underground mine producing coal in 1957.

Mining operations expanded substantially in the 1980s with the addition of an open cut operation and the constructions of the coal preparation plant and rail loading facilities. The open cut operation was placed on care and maintenance in 2016, however mining at the Ulan West and Ulan underground operations continue.