Anglo American is on the brink of reopening the Grosvenor Mine in central Queensland, a year after a devastating explosion forced its closure. The incident, which occurred in June 2023, was caused by a methane gas ignition, prompting an evacuation of the steelmaking coal mine.
Sunday marks the one-year anniversary of the explosion, which followed a similar incident in 2020 that injured five workers. The company is now in the “final stages” of preparation to re-enter the underground site, with significant efforts underway to ensure safety and prevent future occurrences.
Technological Innovations in Mine Safety
Wesley Noble, Grosvenor Mine’s technical assurance manager, has highlighted ongoing work to clear material from underground shafts. This includes the use of advanced technologies to remotely assess conditions without reintroducing oxygen, which could trigger another fire.
One such innovation involves the repurposing of laser sensors to conduct damage assessments. “What we were able to do is utilise that technology in a different way, to put it down a borehole [and] actually map the underground workings from the surface,” explained Noble.
Grosvenor Mine general manager Shane McDowall added that drones have been employed for thermal imaging, methane detection, and aerial damage assessment. “Our focus now turns to safely re-ventilating the underground environment, a critical step that will allow our teams to return underground, carry out visual inspections and continue our readiness activities,” McDowall stated.
Regulatory Oversight and Safety Measures
Resources Health and Safety Queensland (RHSQ) is closely monitoring the progress at Grosvenor Mine, confirming that it is “close to achieving its first phase of re-entry.” The industry watchdog has also permitted Anglo American to re-enter its Moranbah North mine, which was closed following an ignition in late March.
A spokesperson for RHSQ emphasized the importance of a “staged approach” to re-entry, which has allowed the company to begin constructing underground roads on the site.
Worker Sentiments and Union Involvement
The Mining and Energy Union has placed a directive on Anglo American to prevent members from entering the Grosvenor Mine until there is an “acceptable level of risk.” Jason Hill, the union’s industry health and safety representative, expressed optimism about the mine’s reopening. “It’s going to be a good feeling, especially for the workers there to get back into their mine and take ownership of their mine again,” he said.
Grosvenor, the largest underground coal mine in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, employed about 850 permanent workers and contractors before the explosion. While many workers have been redeployed, the suspension of operations at the nearby Moranbah North mine has raised concerns about long-term job stability.
“There are some feelings of insecurity [for workers] and getting this step forward and getting people back underground will provide some security,” Hill noted.
Economic Implications and Future Prospects
In November 2024, Peabody Energy entered a $5.7 billion deal to acquire Anglo American’s four steelmaking coal mines in Queensland. The resumption of longwall mining at Grosvenor is a condition of the final sale price to the mining giant.
Peabody has stated it is continuing to “evaluate whether there is a viable path forward that reflects a revised structure and value.” The company has reserved all rights under acquisition agreements to withdraw from the deal if a change in price is not agreed upon by August.
Innovative Technologies: From Canaries to Robot Dogs
At the nearby Moranbah North mine, Anglo American has been trialling a canary-yellow robot dog, known as “Spot,” to capture images underground. While no decision has been made on its use at Grosvenor, the technology has gained traction in the industry.
University of Queensland Professor Mohsen Yahyaei commented on the potential of such innovations. “I’ve seen many cases that actually people have been using them for maintenance and inspections. You can install these sniffer sensors, and they can actually take the air sample and measure the quality,” he said.
“You remove the human being from those hazardous environments, and therefore you improve the safety aspect and even the work quality as well,” Yahyaei added, underscoring the importance of technology in reducing risks in the resources industry.
As Anglo American moves closer to reopening the Grosvenor Mine, the focus remains on ensuring safety and stability for its workforce, while navigating the economic and technological challenges that lie ahead.
