Geomechanics.io

  • Free Tools
Sign UpLog In

    Geomechanics.io

    Geomechanics, Streamlined.

    © 2026 Geomechanics.io. All rights reserved.

    Geomechanics.io

    CMRR-ioGEODB-ioHYDROGEO-ioQCDB-ioFree Tools & CalculatorsBlogLatest Industry News

    Industries

    MiningConstructionTunnelling

    Company

    Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyLinkedIn
    Projects
    Sustainability

    Coal mine plans grow as new capacity plunges: risk signals for project teams

    August 14, 2026|

    Reviewed by Joe Ashwell

    Coal mine plans grow as new capacity plunges: risk signals for project teams

    First reported on MINING.com

    30 Second Briefing

    Proposed global coal mining capacity rose 11% in 2025, driven mainly by India where the project pipeline doubled as the government targets 1.15 billion tonnes of coal production in 2025–26 to cover peak power demand and energy security. In contrast, commissioning of new coal capacity fell almost 40%, with China’s additions down 44% amid tighter mine approvals and safety rules, and Australia’s new capacity plunging 96% as export demand weakens. Around 70% of proposed mines remain at pre-permit or construction stage, leaving significant scope for cancellations before capital is sunk into potentially uneconomic long-life assets.

    Technical Brief

    • Wind and solar overtook coal in the global electricity mix in 2025, altering long‑term baseload assumptions for new mines.
    • China’s slowdown is explicitly linked to tighter mine safety measures and more restrictive approvals for capacity expansions.
    • Australian capacity additions are additionally constrained by a proposed ban on new greenfield coal mines.
    • Around 70% of proposed coal projects being pre‑permit or under construction implies high exposure to permitting, ESG and financing risk.
    • GEM warns that new coal mines risk becoming long‑lived, stranded assets as clean energy undercuts coal on marginal generation cost.

    Our Take

    Global Energy Monitor’s coal work here sits alongside its role in the critical-minerals gap analysis covered on 11 August 2026, signalling that the same datasets the IEA is using to flag lithium and copper shortfalls are also underpinning concerns about stranded coal capacity in India, China and Australia.

    With 70% of proposed coal projects in India, China and Australia still at pre-permit or construction stage, operators and lenders face a materially higher risk that policy shifts aligned with the IEA’s post‑2030 coal demand decline will freeze projects before payback, compared with fully permitted brownfield expansions.

    Geotechnical Software for Modern Teams

    Centralise site data, logs, and lab results with GEODB-io, CMRR-io, and HYDROGEO-io.

    No credit card required.

    • Save and export unlimited calculations
    • Advanced data visualisation
    • Generate professional PDF reports
    • Cloud storage for all your projects

    Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.

    Related Articles

    WA Mining 2025: procurement access and trial pathways for mine technology teams
    Mining
    about 1 hour ago

    WA Mining 2025: procurement access and trial pathways for mine technology teams

    WA Mining 2025 in Perth brings OEMs and service suppliers face-to-face with decision-makers from BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue and mid-tier operators who control major procurement and operational budgets. The event concentrates mine managers, maintenance leads and technology teams from Pilbara iron ore, Goldfields gold and lithium operations into a single CBD venue, compressing months of site travel into two days. For geotechnical, processing and automation vendors, this centralised access can accelerate trials of new haul road monitoring, pit slope sensing, mill optimisation and fleet management systems across multiple sites.

    AusIMM Mill Operators Conference 2024: optimisation priorities for plant engineers
    Mining
    about 1 hour ago

    AusIMM Mill Operators Conference 2024: optimisation priorities for plant engineers

    AusIMM’s 17th Mill Operators Conference will convene leading metallurgical and processing specialists later this year to focus on boosting plant performance, tightening operational discipline and deploying new technologies across Australian concentrators. Sessions will centre on practical optimisation of grinding and classification circuits, debottlenecking existing mills and integrating advanced process control and digital monitoring into brownfield plants. For plant managers and process engineers, the event signals strong peer focus on throughput gains, energy efficiency and more disciplined operating strategies in mineral processing.

    Steadright Morocco titanium licence: project scale and HMC implications for engineers
    Mining
    about 1 hour ago

    Steadright Morocco titanium licence: project scale and HMC implications for engineers

    Steadright Critical Minerals has secured a mining licence for its TitanBeach titanium project in Morocco, covering an approved core area of roughly 4 km by 4 km (about 16 km²) within a wider 192 km² tenure. 2025 exploration identified ilmenite, titanomagnetite, magnetite, leucoxene and rutile-bearing sands with Fe₂O₃ grades up to 79.5% and TiO₂ up to 14.9%. The licence, issued via NSM Capital Sarl in which Steadright holds 76.5%, is described as unusually large for Morocco and positions the project for detailed resource drilling and process testwork on heavy mineral sands.

    Related Industries & Products

    Mining

    Geotechnical software solutions for mining operations including CMRR analysis, hydrogeological testing, and data management.

    Construction

    Quality control software for construction companies with material testing, batch tracking, and compliance management.

    CMRR-io

    Streamline coal mine roof stability assessments with our cloud-based CMRR software featuring automated calculations, multi-scenario analysis, and collaborative workflows.

    HYDROGEO-io

    Comprehensive hydrogeological testing platform for managing, analysing, and reporting on packer tests, lugeon values, and hydraulic conductivity assessments.

    GEODB-io

    Centralised geotechnical data management solution for storing, accessing, and analysing all your site investigation and material testing data.

    AllGeotechnicalInfrastructureHazardsEnvironmental