Whitehaven Vickery mine expansion to extract 250% more coal approved by NSW

Expanded mine in north-west NSW predicted to generate extra 100 million tonnes of greenhouse gases once coal is burned

New South Wales authorities have approved a Whitehaven Coal plan to develop an expanded new coalmine in the state's north-west.

The decision allows 168m tonnes to be extracted from the proposed Vickery coalmine, near Boggabri, over 30 years. Between 60% and 70% of it is expected to be metallurgical coal used in steel-making and the remainder thermal coal for electricity generation.