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Construction at Minerva started in November 2004 with first coal mined in July 2005 and its first shipment left Gladstone in November last year.
The mine is now ramping up to 2.5 million tonnes a year and exporting to Japan, Korea, Taiwan and India.
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said during the construction phase the mine had employed 200 workers and now has a skilled, full-time workforce of 125 based in the Emerald-Bauhinia region.
Beattie said the coal sector's expansion had been met with state government support, including initiatives under the $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan to provide more vocational education and training to meet industry's skills needs.
As part of the package, the Government has announced a $37 million resources and infrastructure institute of technology to be established in Mackay to lead training for the energy, minerals processing and other infrastructure sectors.
