The federal government has approved the expansion of the Tarrawonga coal mine near Boggabri.
Operated by Whitehaven Coal and Idemitsu, the mine will now produce one million extra tonnes of coal per year, taking its annual total to three million tonnes.
The approval of the expansion will also allow the mine to operate until 2030, rather than 2017.
It comes just a day after a protest against the expansion was held at the mine.
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