Global mining giant Xstrata reportedly plans to offer part of its stakes on the Australian coal mining project in Wandoan, Queensland, which the Swiss company co-owns with Japanese firms Itochu and Sumitomo.

In a statement, Xstrata officials indicated the need for a new partner on the $5.97 billion project, with the projected fresh capital infusion to be largely utilised in constructing the project site's infrastructure requirements.

"The project will require significant capital investment to establish new rail and port infrastructure," Xstrata was reported by Agence France Presse (AFP) as saying on Wednesday.

An earlier report by Dow Jones Newswires revealed too that Xstrata is looking to sell up to 20 percent of the project shares.

At present, Xstrata owns 75 percent of the Wandoan project while the remaining 25 percent shares were evenly distributed to its Japanese partners, AFP said.

Initial estimates furnished by Xstrata showed the mining site is capable of producing 22 million tonnes of thermal coal per annum, with likely output growth of more than 60 million tonnes of the mineral that has become a prized commodity for developing nations in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Wandoan project, Xstrata said, will spawn some new 1300 jobs in the northeast region of Queensland and should firm up Surat Basin's reputation as one of the world's major source of thermal coal.

While still on its development process, Xstrata opens its doors on all possibilities that would enable the project to speed up its completion and commence production at the soonest possible time.

And one of the best available options is "to introduce an additional partner into the project where this represents value for our shareholders and the best outcome for all stakeholders," Xstrata said.

Despite earlier protest actions that greeted the Wandoan project, which Xstrata said is expected to remain productive for at least three decades once it begins operation, the Australian government had provided the green light for the mining activity to proceed.

Amidst claims hurled by environmental activists that the giant coal mining site will again contribute to climate change, Xstrata insisted that the project "followed a rigorous environmental assessment and review process throughout each stage of the Mining Lease Application process."

The Wandoan undertaking, according to Xstrata, "is an important component of the company's organic growth pipeline."