The comprehensive Bulli Seam Operations project to support future longwall mining at Illawarra Coal’s Appin and West Cliff mines for combined annual production of up to 10.5 million tonnes per annum run of mine over 30 years was approved just three days before Christmas.

This project was subject to additional scrutiny from the Planning Assessment Commission – which was ultimately pleased with BHP’s amendments to the project’s scope since it was first submitted back in 2008.

Both Appin and West Cliff can continue their plans for longwall mining up to the end of 2041 under the approval – which limits their combined exports of product coal to no more than 9.3Mt per annum.

The Chain Valley underground coal mine, acquired off Peabody Energy by well-established contractor LDO in 2009, received NSW government approval for its Domains 1 and 2 continuation projects on January 23.

This approval allows the mine to continue until the end of 2016 for production of no more than 1.2Mtpa using bord and pillar along with “miniwall” extraction techniques.

However, the NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure said the project was also considered to be a precursor to a further application to continue mining at Chain Valley for 21 years in total.

In the day before Australia Day, Xstrata’s plans to continue its West Wallsend longwall operation were approved, allowing mining up until the end of 2021 for production of no more than 5.5Mtpa ROM.

Banpu subsidiary Centenntial Coal’s Myuna colliery received NSW government approval on January 18 to continue its bord and pillar operations until the end of 2032.

As part of the conditions, no more than 2Mtpa ROM can be produced and the mine must ensure all of its coal is transported to the Eraring power station through an enclosed overland conveyor.

Coal & Allied received approval for its Warkworth extension project earlier this month, which allows the open cut mine to continue extracting up to 18Mtpa ROM per year for 21 years.

There are 13 coal-related projects under assessment by the NSW DPI, while the stage two expansion of Yancoal Australia’s Moolarben mine – which includes developing two longwall operations – is on exhibition until Friday next week.