In a joint statement released this morning, the MCA and the Australian Coal Association said the decision aimed to streamline the nation’s mining industry into a single representative body.

The move will see ACA chief executive officer Nikki Williams step down.

The announcement follows serious cost-cutting across the industry in recent months, even from the bigger miners such as BHP Billion, Rio Tinto and Glencore Xstrata, who are all members of both lobby groups.

“The decision to integrate the two organisations has been taken by member companies to ensure the industry is well positioned for the future,” MCA chairman Andrew Michelmore and ACA chairman Ross Williams said in a joint statement

“The integrated entity will ensure the mining industry has a clear voice in national policy debates on the economy, climate change management, energy, low emissions technologies, regulatory reform and project approvals.”

The MCA said it would expand its staff numbers to “ensure the coal industry is well represented” but did not say by how many.

ACA chairman Ross Williams thanked Ms Williams for her service to the sector.

“Nikki brought great passion, commitment and drive, together with deep experience, to the ACA role and is thanked for her service to this critical industry.

“Nikki’s advocacy skills have delivered on an important strategic agenda for the industry and is leaving with our best wishes for the future,” Ross Williams said.

The integration is expected to be completed before the end of the year but will not include the ACA’s Coal21 Fund, which will remain a separate company.

The Coal21 Fund acts as a platform for the demonstration and deployment of technologies that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from coal-based electricity generation.