The Moranbah North Coal Mine is a coal mine in the Bowen Basin at Moranbah in Central Queensland, Australia. The mine has coal reserves amounting to 261 million tonnes of coking coal, one of the largest coal reserves in the world. The mine has an annual production capacity of 8 million tonnes of coal.[1] Most of the coal is exported and used to produce iron and steel in Asia but also to India, Brazil and Europe via the Goonyella railway line to Hay Point.[2]
| Location | |
|---|---|
  Moranbah North Coal Mine | |
| Location | Moranbah |
| Queensland | |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 21°58′41″S 148°0′24″E / 21.97806°S 148.00667°E |
| Production | |
| Products | Coking coal |
| Owner | |
| Company | Anglo American Australia (88%) and joint venture partners |
The longwall mining operations at the mine began in 1998.[2] Extraction occurs roughly 200 metres below the surface. Operations are expected to continue until around 2033.[3]
The mine is owned by Anglo American Australia and several joint partners.[2] Methane gas extracted from the mine powers the Moranbah North Power Station.[4]
History edit
In April 2007 underground miner Jason Blee was killed after being pinned to a side wall by a shuttle car.[5] The mine successfully trialed an innovative shotcrete concrete chemical mixture in 2012.[3] In 2013, Moranbah North Coal Mine received the Coal Mine of the Year Award at the 10th annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards.[6] In February 2019, an underground miner, Bradley Hardwick was killed and other miners were injured when the grader he was operating rolled down the mine drift.[7] In March 2022, a miner was killed after being struck in the head by machinery.[8]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Bowen Basin coal mines". bowenbasin.com. 2012. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ^ a b c "Moranbah North". Anglo American Australia. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ a b "Moranbah North: The new face of underground mining innovation". Industry Hub Central Queensland. J Publishing. March 2013. Archived from the original on 4 June 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ "Moranbah North Coal Mine Methane Gas Power Station". Clarke Energy. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ Bruce Mckean (11 September 2009). "Miner's death prompts action". Daily Mercury. The Mackay Printing and Publishing Company. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ Alex Heber (14 November 2013). "Australian Mining Prospect Award Winners: Coal Mine of the Year - Moranbah North, Anglo American". Australian Mining. Cirrus Media. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ "Grader operator killed in underground collision". Australasian Mine Safety Journal. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
- ^ Dennis, Julius (26 March 2022). "Man dies in underground coal mine in Central Queensland after being struck in the head". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 26 March 2022.