Kestrel Mine

Kestrel Mine, located 40 km north east of Emerald in central Queensland is an underground operation, supplying world markets with around four million tonnes of coking and thermal coal per annum.

Previously known as Gordonstone Mine, the operation was opened by the Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) in 1992. Rio Tinto purchased ARCO's 80 per cent interest in February 1999 and the operation was reopened under the employee-voted name Kestrel Mine, in honour of the small falcon bird that can regularly be seen flying over the area.

The Kestrel Mine extension was announced in 2007 is currently under construction. The extension will allow the mine to access remaining resources more efficiently and will extend the life of the mine by 20 years while increasing capacity to up to 5.7 million tonnes per annum.

Rio Tinto Coal Australia manages the operation on behalf of the joint venture partners, Queensland Coal Pty Limited (80 per cent) and Mitsui Kestrel Coal Investment (20 per cent).