Overview
- Approvals will continue case by case for extensions, restarts and adjacent exploration tied to existing mining authorisations.
- Major mines face new methane-cutting rules that require high emitters to capture, treat or convert gas, with coal mining responsible for about 30% of NSW methane and roughly 11% of total emissions.
- The state expects remaining coal-fired power stations to be retired or replaced by renewable electricity by 2040, with future demand met through extensions rather than new standalone projects.
- Coal employs about 23,800 people and generated roughly $23.4 billion in exports and $2.7 billion in royalties in 2025, with regional support to be delivered through the Future Jobs and Investment Authority.
- No greenfield coal mine has been approved in a decade and no application has been lodged in five years, as industry groups label the ban disappointing and environmental advocates urge a faster phase-out; the federal resources minister says the move provides certainty for workers.