Whitehaven Coal
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Coal mining |
| Founded | February 1999 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia |
| Products | Coal |
| Website | whitehavencoal |
Whitehaven Coal operates as an Australian company specializing in coal mining.
History
Established in February 1999, Whitehaven Coal commenced operations at the Canyon open cut mine near Gunnedah in September 2000. Subsequent developments included expansions at Werris Creek in 2005 and the Tarrawonga site in 2006. The company became publicly traded on the Australian Securities Exchange in June 2007.
By June 2011, Whitehaven received authorization to run its own train services to the Port of Newcastle via the Main Northern railway line. In 2012, a takeover bid by Nathan Tinkler was unsuccessful. The Maules Creek coal mine began production in 2015 despite resistance from indigenous groups, agricultural stakeholders, and environmental advocates.
In October 2023, Whitehaven reached an agreement to purchase the Blackwater and Daunia mines located in Queensland from BHP Mitsubishi Alliance, with the transaction completing in April 2024. Later, in August 2024, the company declared it would divest a 20% interest in Blackwater to Nippon Steel and a further 10% to JFE Steel, raising $1.6 billion.
Current
- Werris Creek mine, operational since 2005, wholly owned
- Tarrawonga coal mine, operational since 2006, fully owned
- Sunnyside coal mine, launched in 2008, closed in 2012, recommenced in 2017, entirely owned
- Narrabri coal mine, active since 2012, with 78% ownership
- Maules Creek coal mine, started production in 2015, holding a 75% stake
- Daunia coal mine, acquired in 2025, complete ownership
- Blackwater coal mine, acquired in 2025, fully owned
Former
- Canyon coal mine, operated from 2000 until 2009, fully owned
- Rocglen coal mine, active between 2008 and 2019, wholly owned