Overview -
BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) is Australia's largest coal miner and exporter, and the world's largest supplier to the seaborne coking coal market (28%).
Coal was discovered in central Queensland in 1845 by geologist and explorer Ludwig Leichardt in one of its overland expeditions. The state's first coal mine was opened in 1892 near the town of Blackwater but it was a short lived operation. In 1960 the world's expanding steel industry needed more metallurgical coal and large scale coal exploration began in the Bowen Basin. In 1961 the first open pit coal mining operations began at Moura.
BMA owns and operates nine Queensland Bowen Basin mining operations: two underground operations - Gregory Crinum, Broadmeadow - and five surface operations - Goonyella Riverside, Peak Downs, Saraji, Norwich Park and Blackwater. The Alliance also owns and manages the Poitrel and South Walker Creek open cut mines.
BMA's mines have a total capacity of 58 million tonnes of coal per year.
Coal is washed and then transported by railway to the Port of Hay Point located 38 km south of Mackay. The port is one of the world's largest coal export ports and at the same time one of Australia's most efficient ports.
The mines produce a large assortment of coal ranging from high energy thermal coal to hard coking coal. Their coal is being sold in 23 countries around the world including UK, Japan, Europe, South America, India and Korea.
In 2006, the mining operations employed a total of 9,400 people, contractors included.
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