The Western Australian Government has announced that it will provide $220 million to the Griffin Coal Mine near Collie, to prevent sudden closure of the mine which would cost hundreds of workers their jobs, create risk in the energy system, and present challenges to industrial coal users.
The Griffin mine supplies coal to the privately-owned Bluewaters Power Station as well as to industry. However, it is in receivership as a result of commercial disputes and therefore is at risk of sudden closure.
To prevent a sudden mine closure and ensure a managed transition for Collie, the State Government has allocated funding to support continued operations at Griffin until June 2026.
It follows a number of funding injections from the State Government to support the mine over the past 12 months, totalling $39.3 million to date.
The funding announcement will deliver certainty for the mine workforce, industry and the community for the next two-and-a-half years, and will allow time to prepare for a potential mine closure.
The decision will also ensure Griffin’s industrial customers can reduce their dependence on the mine, helping to deliver certainty for the thousands of workers they employ.
The Western Australian Government is already investing more than $660 million to deliver a Just Transition for Collie – attracting new industries and putting training opportunities in place as the economy transitions away from coal.
The investment in diversifying Collie’s economy will ensure there are a range of industrial jobs available in the town ahead of June 2026.
The state is also investing billions of dollars into new renewable energy generation and storage, to ready the grid for the retirement of all state-owned coal-fired power stations. This includes building one of Australia’s biggest batteries in Collie, which is expected to create 500 construction jobs.
Once that new generation and storage comes online, along with new privately funded projects, Western Australia’s electricity system will have the capacity to remain reliable and affordable without requiring power from Bluewaters.
Western Australian Premier, Roger Cook, said that it is disappointing that the private companies involved in Griffin have been unable to find a commercial solution to their problems, despite significant support from government.
“A sudden closure of the Griffin mine would see hundreds of workers lose their jobs overnight and put at risk the stability of our electricity system,” Mr Cook said.
“Put simply – I won’t let that happen.
“This investment gives industry and the community certainty about the path forward, as we continue our managed transition away from coal in Western Australia.
“We will always put local jobs first, and we will never allow our electricity system to slide into the chaos we’ve seen in the eastern states.
“That’s what this investment delivers, and it’s what we will continue to deliver for Collie and for Western Australia.”
Western Australian Minister for Energy, Mines and Petroleum, Bill Johnston, said that Western Australia is in the middle of an unprecedented energy transition, with growing energy demand.
“It is critical we support Griffin Coal at this time to ensure a stable transition to a higher renewable energy system,” Mr Johnston said.
“The State Government will continue to work with the Australian Energy Market Operator, which operates our main electricity grid, so our system can move towards a low‑emissions future while remaining secure.”
Member for Collie-Preston, Jodie Hanns, said that she is proud of how the community is leading the way in this transition – working closely with government, unions and industry to deliver a strong future for the town.
“It’s important that local workers have certainty, and that’s what this decision provides,” Ms Hanns said.
“My number one focus is to ensure local workers have access to the training and job opportunities they deserve as we continue on the path to 2030 together.”
