Gary Nagle said it was in the best interests of both the company and the planet for Glencore to run down the mines over the next 30 years.

The funding, $35 million in total, is being awarded to 12 projects.

Company has 10 sales processes underway across its portfolio and 15 further assets under review.

The miners halted work last week in support of colleagues who were protesting in the capital Sarajevo against what they said were violations of work and pay regulations.

US power plants are burning more coal amid a global shortage of natural gas.

Glencore is the world’s biggest thermal-coal shipper and its billionaire former boss Ivan Glasenberg has been a firm advocate of the business.

The Hail Creek coal mine leaked an estimated 230,000 tonnes of methane a year in 2018 and 2019, according to researchers.

Some coal miners at top mining regions have caped prices at 900 yuan a tonne.