A Queensland mining company has reopened the New Burton Coal Mine in the Bowen Basin, with Premier David Crisafulli opening the site today and declaring coal mining had a 'bullish future'.
Argo Resources Queensland purchased the New Burton Mine near Moranbah from Bowen Coking Coal in June, after the mine went into receivership in 2025. The company has employed 275 workers at the site.
The mine is the fourth Argo has a controlling interest in, after acquiring a 70 per cent stake in Bowen Basin mines Broadlea, Carborough Downs and Ironbark in March for an undisclosed sum.
Premier Crisafulli said the Queensland government had not contributed to the mine with financial incentives or delayed royalty payments. 'Queensland taxpayers, not only will they not be out of pocket one cent because of this, they'll be the net beneficiary because the royalties are being paid and they're being paid in full,' he said.
Mr Crisafulli said: 'People need to know that the future of mining in Queensland is secure. But also, the future of coal mining in Queensland, and I'm talking about both thermal and met [metallurgical] coal, there's a future for both.'
Argo CEO Richard Livingstone-Blevins said royalties were not a deterrent to acquiring coalmines. 'At the end of the day, we invested in the state based on the current royalty regime that's in place,' he said.
Mr Livingstone-Blevins declined to comment on why the previous mine owners were not profitable, adding 'We all run vastly different businesses with vastly different cost profiles and different assets that have different operating costs.' He said Argo planned to mine 10 million tonnes of saleable coal by 2028.
Mr Livingstone-Blevins said: 'We have two prep plant hubs, we've got two rail loops, we're serviced by our own haul road, we've got our own camp, we've got four mines along the strike, and we've got over 4 billion tonnes of resource in the ground, which we seek to develop as we push forward.'
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The reopening adds 275 mining jobs in Queensland's Bowen Basin, a significant employment boost for the region.
- The investment signals confidence in Queensland's coal sector despite recent mine closures and disputes over royalty rates.
- The premier's involvement underscores the state government's political commitment to coal mining as a pillar of the economy.
Background
The New Burton mine went into receivership in 2025 under previous owner Bowen Coking Coal, which had cited coal royalties as a factor in its unprofitability. Queensland's coal royalty regime has been a flashpoint between industry and government, with miners arguing higher rates deter investment and the state asserting they are competitive. Argo Resources Queensland has rapidly expanded its Bowen Basin holdings, acquiring stakes in four mines since March.
What to Watch
- Whether Argo reaches its target of 10 million tonnes of saleable coal by 2028, and how that compares with the mine's previous output.
- Any further acquisitions by Argo in the Bowen Basin, given the company's stated ambition to develop its 4 billion tonnes of resource.
- The profitability of the mine under new ownership, and whether the royalty regime remains a political issue.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe New Burton Coal Mine has reopened in Queensland.Latest business news: “A Queensland company has reopened the New Burton Coal Mine in the Bowen Basin.”
- SupportedPremier David Crisafulli said coal mining had a “bullish future.”Latest business news: “Premier David Crisafulli reopened the mine today, saying coal mining had a "bullish future".”
- Partly supportedArgo Resources Queensland employs 275 workers at the mine.Latest business news: “A Queensland mining company has employed 275 workers and reopened a Bowen Basin coalmine that went into receivership in 2025.”
- SupportedThe mine went into receivership in 2025.Latest business news: “A Queensland mining company has employed 275 workers and reopened a Bowen Basin coalmine that went into receivership in 2025.”
- SupportedCrisafulli officially reopened the mine today.Latest business news: “Premier David Crisafulli officially reopened the mine today, saying coal mining had a "bullish future".”
- SupportedArgo bought the New Burton Mine near Moranbah from Bowen Coking Coal in June, after it went into receivership in 2025.Latest business news: “Argo Resources Queensland purchased the New Burton Mine near Moranbah, about 120 kilometres south-west of Mackay, from Bowen Coking Coal in June.”
- SupportedCrisafulli said the Queensland government had not contributed financial incentives or delayed royalty payments to the mine.Latest business news: “He said the Queensland government had not contributed to the mine with financial incentives or delayed royalty payments.”
- SupportedCrisafulli said taxpayers would not be out of pocket and would benefit because royalties were being paid in full.Latest business news: “"Queensland taxpayers, not only will they not be out of pocket one cent because of this, they'll be the net beneficiary because the royalties are being paid and they're being paid in full," he said.”
- SupportedCrisafulli said Queensland coal mining had a future for both thermal and metallurgical coal.Latest business news: “"But also, the future of coal mining in Queensland, and I'm talking about both thermal and met [metallurgical] coal, there's a future for both."”
- SupportedLivingstone-Blevins said royalties were not a deterrent to acquiring coalmines and that Argo invested based on the current royalty regime.Latest business news: “"At the end of the day, we invested in the state based on the current royalty regime that's in place," he said.”
- SupportedLivingstone-Blevins said, “We all run vastly different businesses with vastly different cost profiles and different assets that have different operating costs.”Latest business news: “"We all run vastly different businesses with vastly different cost profiles and different assets that have different operating costs."”
- SupportedArgo planned to mine 10 million tonnes of saleable coal by 2028.Latest business news: “Mr Livingstone-Blevins said Argo planned to mine 10 million tonnes of saleable coal by 2028.”