The future of the long-stalled Dartbrook coal mine near Muswellbrook is once again in doubt, after Australian Pacific Coal (AQC), the company behind the project, entered voluntary administration this week. KordaMentha was appointed as administrator on Wednesday, 3 July 2025, following ongoing financial difficulties, a missed funding condition on a $174 million loan from Vitol Asia, and prolonged legal disputes with major shareholder Trepang Services. The Dartbrook mine, which has not produced coal since 2006, had been edging closer to restarting operations after securing environmental approvals and investor backing. However, despite progress on paper, AQC faced increasing pressure amid boardroom instability, regulatory...