Australian Pacific Coal Limited (ASX:AQC) is an emerging Australian coal exploration and development company focused on acquiring, developing and operating thermal and metallurgical coal projects; its principal asset is the Dartbrook Coal Mine, an unincorporated joint venture (80% AQC, 20% Tetra Resources) located in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, approximately 4 kilometers west of Aberdeen and 10 kilometers northwest of Muswellbrook, featuring bord-and-pillar underground mining from the Kayuga seam, a coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP), and access to the Great Northern Railway for export via nearby ports. The company, founded in 1999 and headquartered in Brisbane, Queensland, previously held interests in the Hunter Valley, Newcastle and Mantuan Downs bentonite projects, though current operations center on Dartbrook's estimated marketable resource of 2.5 billion tonnes of high-quality thermal coal with 370 million tonnes in reserves. In recent developments, AQC completed acquisition of the Dartbrook mine from Anglo American and Marubeni, resumed underground mining operations, advanced CHPP refurbishment ahead of schedule and within budget to enable washed coal production, secured updated senior debt facilities and subordinated financing including a Trepang loan for working capital amid softer coal prices, and faced a statutory demand from M Resources related to a proposed joint venture while entering administration in July 2025 with Deloitte appointed following payment defaults, alongside a trading suspension request in October 2025 and delays in full-year accounts.