Mining major Rio Tinto has launched the $2 billion extension of its Kestrel coal mine in central Queensland, Australia.


The Kestrel mine is situated 40 km north-east of Emerald and is the company's only underground coal operation.

The extension is expected to add 20 years to the life of the mine and increase hard coking coal production to about six million tonnes per year.

The new operation is anticipated to reach full capacity by the end of 2014 as the existing mine is ramped down.

Kestrel Mine has about 115 million tonnes in coal reserves and its main export customers are in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Europe, India and China.

Rio Tinto energy chief executive Harry Kenyon-Slaney said that the extension has delivered one of the most advanced underground coking coal operations built in Australia.

"It is equipped with a new level of automation that will deliver significant safety and production improvements," Kenyon-Slaney added.

Rio Tinto manages the mine on behalf of the joint venture partners Queensland Coal and Mitsui Kestrel Coal Investment.