News Brief: English
Summary
An investigation into the Dartbrook coal mine in NSW, commissioned by co-owner Australian Pacific Coal (AQC), found senior managers from the joint venture partner Tetra Resources may have overseen the awarding of multi-million-dollar contracts to companies they were linked to, in an apparent conflict of interest. The report’s findings were allegedly ignored, and the mine subsequently collapsed into administration in July 2024, leaving local creditors unpaid.
Key Points
- Whistleblower Trigger: An external investigation was launched after a whistleblower complaint about “related parties … benefiting as preferred suppliers” at the Dartbrook mine.
- Damning Findings: The report identified apparent conflicts of interest, noting senior Tetra executives may have approved contracts worth millions to entities they directed or were linked to, without proper disclosure.
- Collapse: The mine, revived in late 2023, entered administration in July 2024 after defaulting on a $202 million loan, owing a further $5 million to unsecured creditors and cutting two-thirds of its workforce.
- Executive Response: Former AQC CEO Ayten Saridas resigned, feeling her concerns were ignored. Tetra executives, through their lawyer, denied wrongdoing, stating all transactions were “commercial arms-length.”
- Financial Scrutiny: Investigators flagged over $13 million in “unsupported” payments to third-party contractors, with insufficient documentation to justify the work done.
- Current Status: AQC’s shares are suspended. Receivers are trying to sell the mine, aiming for a sale in Q1 2025.
新闻简报：中文
摘要
由共同所有者澳大利亚太平洋煤炭公司（AQC）委托进行的一项针对新南威尔士州达特布鲁克煤矿的调查发现，合资伙伴Tetra资源公司的高级管理人员可能监督了将价值数百万美元的合同授予与他们有关联的公司的过程，存在明显的利益冲突。报告的结果据称被忽视，该矿随后于2024年7月破产管理，导致当地债权人未获付款。
关键点
- 举报人触发调查：在接到关于达特布鲁克煤矿存在”关联方……作为优先供应商获益”的举报后，启动了外部调查。
- 严厉的调查结果：报告指出了明显的利益冲突，指出Tetra公司高管可能批准了价值数百万美元、授予他们管理或关联实体的合同，且未进行适当披露。
- 煤矿破产：该矿于2023年底重启，但在拖欠2.02亿美元贷款后，于2024年7月进入破产管理，还欠无担保债权人500万美元，并裁减了三分之二的员工。
- 高管回应：前AQC首席执行官Ayten Saridas因感到其担忧被忽视而辞职。Tetra高管通过律师否认有不当行为，称所有交易都是”商业公允的”。
- 财务审查：调查人员标记了超过1300万澳元支付给第三方承包商的”无支持”款项，缺乏足够文件证明所做工作。
- 现状：AQC股票已停牌。破产接管人正试图出售该矿，目标是在2025年第一季度完成交易。
Original Article Link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-19/dartbrook-coal-mine-company-buries-whistleblower-report/106136748