The deal reached with the Djungan people provides for full protection of cultural heritage, mutual management decision-making for exploration activity and staged compensation, employment and training packages to the native title parties.

Initial exploration targets will include extensions of a known coal deposit in an area restricted for heritage and environmental reasons.

A revised renewal application reflecting Mantle’s program outside of the constrained area and an access agreement from pastoral station holders will also need to be approved before exploration can begin at the site.

Trafford consists of the Mulligan sub-basin which Mantle says contains 100-500 million tonnes of black coal.

However, the known coal deposit at Mount Mulligan remains a restricted area due to heritage, environmental and sterile land constraints.