Moranbah North Mine
The Safeguard Mechanism requires Australia's largest industrial facilities to keep net emissions under a legislated, stepping-down baseline — or offset the difference with carbon credits.
Reported emissions vs baseline, 2016–17 to 2024–25
Credit surrenders — Moranbah North Mine
| Year | Emissions | Baseline | Gap† | ACCUs | SMCs | Compliance† |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24–25 | 1.41 Mt | 646 kt | +761 kt | 161,481 | 599,452 | ACCU + SMC |
| 23–24 | 1.48 Mt | 1.30 Mt | +184 kt | — | 183,699 | SMC buyer |
| 22–23 | 2.27 Mt | 4.53 Mt | -2.26 Mt | — | — | Under baseline |
| 21–22 | 2.01 Mt | 4.53 Mt | -2.53 Mt | — | — | Under baseline |
| 20–21 | 2.53 Mt | — | — | — | — | — |
| 19–20 | 2.32 Mt | — | — | — | — | — |
| 18–19 | 1.96 Mt | — | — | — | — | — |
| 17–18 | 2.33 Mt | — | — | — | — | — |
| 16–17 | 1.36 Mt | 1.36 Mt | 0 t | — | — | Under baseline |
Emissions, baseline, ACCUs and SMCs are reported directly by CER. †Gap and compliance category are calculated by Zerra from those figures.
What this means
Moranbah North Mine is a facility operated by ANGLO COAL (MORANBAH NORTH MANAGEMENT) PTY LIMITED in QLD. Like all covered facilities, industrial operations generate significant emissions. Under Australia's Safeguard Mechanism, Moranbah North Mine must keep its annual emissions below a stepping-down baseline — or purchase carbon credits to cover any overage.
In 2024–25, Moranbah North Mine reported emissions of 1.41 Mt against a baseline obligation of 646 kt — an overage of 761 kt. The facility covered the overage through a combination of ACCUs and SMCs.
Purchasing credits is legal and intended by the Safeguard Mechanism's design — the policy deliberately allows facilities to choose between cutting on-site emissions or funding abatement elsewhere in the economy. Whether credit purchases represent genuine long-term decarbonisation depends on whether the facility's absolute emissions are trending down over time. The chart above shows the trajectory since reporting began. This question applies to all covered facilities under the Safeguard Mechanism, not Moranbah North Mine specifically.
Among 8 comparable facilities, 8 reported emissions above their baseline in 2024–25. The table below compares Moranbah North Mine with other facilities covered by the Safeguard Mechanism in the same classification.
Related facilities — Safeguard Mechanism 2024–25
| Facility | Operator | State | Emissions | vs Baseline | Compliance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moranbah North Mine | ANGLO COAL (MORANBAH NORTH MANAGEMENT) PTY LIMITED | QLD | 1.41 Mt | +761 kt | ACCU + SMC |
| Curragh Mine | CORONADO AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS PTY LTD | QLD | 1.09 Mt | +558 kt | Pending |
| Kestrel Mine | Kestrel Coal Group Pty Ltd | QLD | 1.26 Mt | +555 kt | ACCU + SMC |
| Ashton Coal Mine (Underground) | ASHTON COAL OPERATIONS PTY LIMITED | NSW | 683 kt | +489 kt | ACCU buyer |
| Goonyella Broadmeadow Mine | BM Alliance Coal Operations Pty Limited | QLD | 1.36 Mt | +469 kt | ACCU buyer |
| Centurion Coal Mine | Centurion Coal Mining Pty Ltd | QLD | 591 kt | +430 kt | ACCU + SMC |
| Warkworth Mine | Warkworth Mining Ltd | NSW | 1.06 Mt | +302 kt | ACCU buyer |
| Olive Downs Complex | PEMBROKE RESOURCES NOMINEE PTY LTD | QLD | 393 kt | +293 kt | ACCU buyer |
All data sourced from the Clean Energy Regulator (Australian Government). Zerra is an independent data platform and is not affiliated with any listed facility or operator.