Wilpinjong Coal is located 40 kilometres north-east of Mudgee in New South Wales. Approval for Wilpinjong was granted by the NSW Minister for Planning in February 2006 and first coal was railed from the site in October the same year. Peabody purchased the mine in late 2006.

Wilpinjong is currently mined under contract by Thiess, but will be transitioning to Peabody owner-operator status in the lead up to 31 March 2013 when the current contract expires.

Wilpinjong produces a high-quality thermal coal for both domestic and export markets. Its principal domestic market is a long-term contract with Macquarie Generation. Export coal is shipped to customers in the Asia Pacific area through Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group (NCIG) and Port Waratah Coal Services (PWCS) in Newcastle.

Approval was granted in September 2010 to increase run of mine production to 15 million tonnes per annum, along with expansion of the Coal Handling and Preparation Plant and construction of additional conveyors and transfer stations.

Expansion to the east in Slate Gully delivers additional reserves and will extend the life of the mine. The mine had 178 million tonnes of reserve on 1 December 2010.

Wilpinjong thermal coal specifications*

* Based on preliminary information.