Coal mining in NSW: Key statistics
NSW has 35 operational coal mines located across the 5 major NSW coalfields (Gunnedah, Hunter, Newcastle, Southern and Western) and the Gloucester Basin. These mines are regulated under the Mining Act 1992 and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act). Planning approvals issued under the EP&A Act set conditions such as the total amount of coal that can be extracted and the life of the mine. The NSW Government’s position on the future of the coal mining industry is set out in the Strategic Statement on Coal Exploration and Mining in NSW (2020).
This paper provides key statistics on the coal mining industry in NSW, current as at September 2025. It identifies all mines which are operational or could become operational in future, and their current and proposed timeframes of operation. Sets out key economic statistics on employment, production, exports and royalties.
Daniel Montoya, BEnvSci (Hons), PhD
Senior Research Officer, Parliamentary Research Service
Research Paper 5, 2025
Read the paper and download the data
Published: 30 September 2025. Data current as at September 2025.