Peak Downs (Australia)

As number six on our list, The Peak Downs mine is the largest coal mine in Australia. The open-cut coking coal mine in Queensland is one of seven mines in the Bowen Basin. The mine, which began production in 1972, is estimated to hold 1,063 million tons of recoverable coal reserves as of June 2013.

The mine is owned and operated by BHP Billiton’s Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA). The Peak Downs mine is operated utilizing dragline and truck/shovel fleets and transported via railroad to the Hay Point Coal Terminal near Mackay for shipping.