Queensland approves Saraji East coal mine expansion despite incomplete climate plan

The Queensland government granted environmental approval for BHP Mitsubishi Alliance's Saraji East coal mine expansion, even though the project's environmental impact statement found it failed to adequately detail emissions or abatement measures. The mine would produce up to 11 million tonnes of coal per year over 20 years, generating an estimated 330 to 356 million tonnes of lifetime emissions, according to Lock the Gate Alliance and The Australia Institute. The approval has drawn criticism from climate activists who point to risks to water resources, threatened species like koalas and greater gliders, and the project's reliance on unspecified carbon offsets. The mine still needs federal approval before construction can begin. This case highlights ongoing tensions between state-level approval processes and the need for concrete emissions accounting in major fossil fuel projects.