Glencore Fails to Provide Exit Strategy for Hunter Valley Coal Mine Closure

A hearing into a proposal to extend the Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) coal mine into the 2040s revealed that the required mine‑exit strategy, mandated by the NSW Department of Planning, was never produced. An independent audit in 2022 could not locate the strategy, and the condition was quietly removed when an 18‑month extension was approved in April 2025.

Lock the Gate Alliance, citing national coordinator Georgina Woods, accused Glencore and the planning department of collaborating to delete the condition just two years before mining is set to cease. The alliance is urging Glencore to publicly commit funding for fair transition arrangements for the workforce and the broader Hunter region economy. HVO general manager Dave Foster rejected claims that the company does not care for its workers, stating the company’s consent obligations are a starting point, not an endpoint.