Date: May 27, 2018
Location: Illawarra, New South Wales (Australia)
Address: Unknown
Type: Potential Dust Explosion
Fuel: Methane/Coal Dust
Industry: Coal Mining (Mining)
Equipment: Unknown
Company: South32
Previous Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
The Appin Coal Mine in Illawarra, New South Wales, Australia is owned by South32. According to the South32 website they are a global resource company with locations in Africa, South America, and Australia. The company has five locations in Australia including the metallurgical coal mine in Illawarra, New South Wales.
Description of Potential Coal Dust Explosion:
On May 27, 2018 Illawarra Mercury reported a methane gas explosion and potential coal dust explosion at the Appin Coal Mine in Illawarra, New South Wales, Australia. No workers were injured and regulators and the company are currently investigating the incident. Limited information is available and the incident occurred on the same day that the Resource Regulator announced a statewide compliance blitz with 80 safety, environment, and compliance inspectors.
Recent Difficulties in the Coal Mining Operation:
The Appin Coal mine has suffered several financial and technical difficulties involving methane ventilation and other issues dating back to 2016. This News Agency Article outlines five of the largest problems including:
- October 2016 – Mine shut down after methane levels of 4.73% were found. This is just below explosible levels of approximately 5% and above the allowable level of 2%.
- November 2016 – Ventilation system cut out, forcing workers above ground
- May 2017 – Prohibition noticed issues for elevated methane gas levels in the mine
- June 2017 – Operations suspended due to elevated methane gas levels
- January 2018 – Operations suspended after failure of the gas drainage plant
The mining operations were allowed to resume on January 19, 2018. In February the mine cut over 100 positions including removing or replacing ventilation specialists. It is unclear what role methane gas ventilation or the reduction of worker staff had on the May 27 incident.
Previous Incidents:
According to Wikipedia a methane gas explosion on July 24, 1979 claimed the lives of 14 of the 46 miners working that day. An inquiry determined that both state government and the mine owner company (Australian Iron and Steel Ltd.) were guilty in contributing to the explosion. Methane buildup was noted prior to the explosion, but the incident was confined to a small section of the mine due to an adequate limestone inerting program that had recently been put into place at the mine.
Sources:
Illawarra Mercury (Incident Description)
Illawarra Mercury (Previous Difficulties)
Illawarra Mercury (October 2016)
Illawarra Mercury (May 2017)
Illawarra Mercury (January 2018)
Illawarra Mercury (Resume Operations)
Illawarra Mercury (Cut 100 Positions)
Appin Mine Disaster
