Anglo American tackles subterranean fire at Australian coal mine
COAL & MINING

Anglo American tackles subterranean fire at Australian coal mine

Anglo American reported that it was contending with an underground fire at its Grosvenor metallurgical coal mine in Queensland, Australia. The fire had started on Saturday, igniting at the longwall section of the mine in Moranbah, a coal mining town situated around 1,000 km north of Brisbane. This incident occurred at the same mine where five workers were critically injured in an explosion in May 2020.

According to a statement on Facebook on Sunday, Anglo American stated, "We are currently managing a combustion event underground at Grosvenor Mine, following an ignition at the longwall on Saturday." They emphasized that their primary focus was on safely extinguishing the underground fire, which emergency response teams were handling from the surface.

The mine site had been closed, permitting only essential emergency services personnel to be present, as noted in an earlier social media update. The company also mentioned that efforts had commenced to temporarily seal the mine from the surface, a crucial measure aimed at preventing smoke from affecting the town's residents, numbering 9,425.

Acknowledging the complexity and evolving nature of the situation, Anglo American cautioned that ensuring the safety of all emergency teams involved would require significant time. All mine workers were successfully evacuated after the fire broke out.

A spokesperson for the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services clarified that their agency was not directly involved in managing the incident, which remained under the mine's jurisdiction. Queensland Mines Minister Scott Stewart, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corp on Sunday, assured a comprehensive investigation into the fire would be conducted.

In its annual report, Anglo American disclosed that Grosvenor mine had produced 2.797 million tons of metallurgical coal in 2023, constituting 17% of the company's coal output. It remains the world's third-largest exporter of metallurgical coal.

Anglo American reported that it was contending with an underground fire at its Grosvenor metallurgical coal mine in Queensland, Australia. The fire had started on Saturday, igniting at the longwall section of the mine in Moranbah, a coal mining town situated around 1,000 km north of Brisbane. This incident occurred at the same mine where five workers were critically injured in an explosion in May 2020. According to a statement on Facebook on Sunday, Anglo American stated, We are currently managing a combustion event underground at Grosvenor Mine, following an ignition at the longwall on Saturday. They emphasized that their primary focus was on safely extinguishing the underground fire, which emergency response teams were handling from the surface. The mine site had been closed, permitting only essential emergency services personnel to be present, as noted in an earlier social media update. The company also mentioned that efforts had commenced to temporarily seal the mine from the surface, a crucial measure aimed at preventing smoke from affecting the town's residents, numbering 9,425. Acknowledging the complexity and evolving nature of the situation, Anglo American cautioned that ensuring the safety of all emergency teams involved would require significant time. All mine workers were successfully evacuated after the fire broke out. A spokesperson for the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services clarified that their agency was not directly involved in managing the incident, which remained under the mine's jurisdiction. Queensland Mines Minister Scott Stewart, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corp on Sunday, assured a comprehensive investigation into the fire would be conducted. In its annual report, Anglo American disclosed that Grosvenor mine had produced 2.797 million tons of metallurgical coal in 2023, constituting 17% of the company's coal output. It remains the world's third-largest exporter of metallurgical coal.

Next Story
Resources

Ajmera Realty launches tree drive on Environment Day

Ajmera Realty & Infra India marked World Environment Day with a large-scale tree plantation initiative—Plant-with-Purpose—across its projects in Mumbai and Bangalore. The drive was inaugurated at Ajmera Manhattan and Ajmera Greenfinity in Wadala, with senior company officials and residents in attendance. The campaign encourages residents to embrace eco-conscious, self-reliant lifestyles by growing useful plants and trees within their communities. Horticulture expert Devendra Bhekar guided residents on creating and maintaining green spaces. Ajmera Realty planted over 500 trees..

Next Story
Resources

Twaron®-reinforced tyre powers Brunel’s solar race car

Teijin Aramid’s Twaron® with circular content will debut in Bridgestone’s race tyres for the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, supporting the Brunel Solar Team’s Nuna 13 car. This marks the first use of the recycled-content aramid in a high-performance race tyre. The Twaron®-reinforced belts help enhance durability, reduce rolling resistance, and maintain lightweight strength—critical for the 3,000-km solar race across Australia. Bridgestone combines this with ENLITENTM tech and other recycled inputs to maximise environmental and performance outcomes. Teijin Aramid, a..

Next Story
Building Material

Kamdhenu Paints launches new wood coating range

Kamdhenu Paints has launched a comprehensive premium wood coating range designed for both interior and exterior applications. The collection includes high-performance solutions like Kamwood 2K PU for a rich matt or high-gloss finish, Kamwood 1K PU for clarity and stain protection, and the Kamwood Melamyne system for a smooth, durable finish. Also featured are Kamwood Wood Stains, which enhance wood grains with vibrant colour, and NC Sanding Sealer for high-build grain filling. The range is supported by Kamwood Thinners for ease of application and optimal finish. Saurabh Agarwal, MD, ..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?