The New Burton Coal Mine, south of Mackay, has officially reopened, securing 275 jobs and targeting annual production of up to three million tonnes.
Argo Natural Resources has restarted operations at the mine following its acquisition of Bowen Coking Coal.
The company acquired 100 percent of Bowen Coking Coal from administrators on June 30, 2026, and is aiming to reach steady-state production in the first quarter of 2027.
New Burton is targeting annual production of between 2.5 million and three million tonnes of product coal, the Queensland Government said in a statement.
The mine is one of four Queensland coal operations in which the Argo consortium has invested, alongside Broadlea, Carborough Downs and Ironbank.
The investments have secured the future of approximately 1250 employees, contractors and suppliers across the four sites.
Argo CEO Richard Livingstone-Blevins said the company had brought New Burton back into operation in less than six months after taking ownership.
“New Burton is the next piece in our connected portfolio of high-quality coal assets and puts us firmly on the path to our target of 10 million product tonnes a year by 2028,” Mr Livingstone-Blevins said.
“We are very proud that New Burton is already making an important contribution to our region by securing jobs for 275 people who are mostly locals.”
The Queensland Government said Argo’s investment in the state’s coal industry followed discussions during Premier David Crisafulli’s trade mission to Japan last year.
Mr Crisafulli said the reopening demonstrated renewed investment in Queensland’s resources sector.
“This is a stamp of approval for Queensland’s coal industry and protects the livelihoods of hundreds of workers who can continue to live and work in Central Queensland,” he said.
“Argo’s major investment in Queensland coal assets was set in stone following our trade mission last year, and we will continue to pull every lever to secure future investment into our world-class resources sector.”
