United Coal 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 — United Coal Mine
| Year | Emissions | Baseline | Gap† | ACCUs | SMCs | Compliance† |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24–25 | 488 kt | 271 kt | +217 kt | 74,461 | 143,032 | ACCU + SMC |
| 23–24 | 433 kt | 190 kt | +243 kt | 52,973 | 190,000 | ACCU + SMC |
| 22–23 | 291 kt | 330 kt | -39 kt | — | — | Under baseline |
| 21–22 | 170 kt | 330 kt | -160 kt | — | — | Under baseline |
| 17–18 | 161 kt | 731 kt | -570 kt | — | — | Under baseline |
| 16–17 | 212 kt | 731 kt | -519 kt | — | — | 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
United Coal Mine is a facility operated by UNITED COLLIERIES PTY LTD in NSW. Like all covered facilities, industrial operations generate significant emissions. Under Australia's Safeguard Mechanism, United Coal Mine must keep its annual emissions below a stepping-down baseline — or purchase carbon credits to cover any overage.
In 2024–25, United Coal Mine reported emissions of 488 kt against a baseline obligation of 271 kt — an overage of 217 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 United Coal Mine specifically.
Among 8 comparable facilities, 8 reported emissions above their baseline in 2024–25. The table below compares United Coal 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.