Coal exploration company Bandanna Energy will develop the coal mine in partnership with mining investment and trading business group AMCI.

Managed by Alpha Coal Management, a subsidiary of AMCI, the South Galilee Coal Project will be developed as an open cut and underground mining operation over a projected 33 years mine life.

The mine is estimated to produce 15.2Mtpa raw coal, yielding an average 13.6Mtpa of product coal and peaking at 16.6Mtpa of product coal.

Proposed infrastructure for the mine includes coal handling infrastructure, a mine water management system, mine access roads, an on-site accommodation village and a rail spur, requiring 1600 people during the two year construction phase.

The government has called for comments on the EIS, which will be open until 3 December 2012.

Bandanna Energy MD Michael Gray stated, "The EIS process is a critically important stage in the SGCP approvals process and in our engagement with key stakeholders in the broader community."