Australian Coal Links

Japan reviews local coal resources to combat import prices

noreply@blogger.com (John Sleigh) — Sun, 25 May 2008 22:19:00 +0000

The price of coal has made Japan review their own local resources, according to a report from the New York Times.

Environmental laws and workforce attraction will prevent a return to the large mines of the 1950's, but there have been proposals to raise production using new, untested technologies like pumping in water or heat to liquefy coal so it can be sucked out of the ground like oil.

In the United Kingdom, where coal’s decline became a symbol of withered industrial might, companies are increasing production and considering reopening at least one closed mine as demand for British coal rises.

In recent months, South Korea has experienced calls to create a domestic coal industry in order to reduce dependence on imports.

In Kenya, a bituminous coal deposit at 11 metres below ground may reduce that country's reliance on South African imports.

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Bituminous coal found in Kenya

noreply@blogger.com (John Sleigh) — Sun, 25 May 2008 22:13:00 +0000

The coal deposits found in Kenya's swampy Mui basin in Kitui and Mwingi districts, is touted as the best alternative source of energy to cushion the economy against the adverse effects of high oil prices.

Coal for electricity generation in Kenya is currently imported from South Africa.

The discovery of the deposits of bituminous or soft coal at a shallow depth of 11 metres comes against a backdrop of escalating global oil prices that are having negative effects on the country’s manufacturing, and transportation sectors.

see the report from Kenya's Daily Nation

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5 killed in Chinese mine explosion

noreply@blogger.com (John Sleigh) — Sun, 25 May 2008 22:08:00 +0000

Five miners were killed and one was injured in a coal mine explosion in north China's Shanxi Province on Wednesday. The accident happened at about 6:50 p.m. at the mine in Yuxian County, Yangquan City, when 30 people were working underground, said a spokesman of the city government.

The mine, owned by Wanlong Mining Co. Ltd., was fully registered with a designed output of 150,000 tons annually.

See the full report

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3 Indian coal mining fatalaties

noreply@blogger.com (John Sleigh) — Sun, 25 May 2008 22:00:00 +0000

A shot-firer, an over-man and an under-manager were killed in a roof collapse in an Indian mine under Pench area of Parasia collieries on May 18. Parasia is located in the Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh.

A report from Business Standard says the age of the workers and the equipment at the mine have been criticised. No new miners have been employed at the mine since 1972.

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China Quake

noreply@blogger.com (John Sleigh) — Sun, 25 May 2008 08:56:00 +0000

At least 24 miners are trapped underground in three mines in Sichuan province, the area that bore the worst of the 12 May earthquake.

See reports from:
The Independent on Sunday (U.K.)
Reuters
Associated Press

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Crandall Canyon report

noreply@blogger.com (John Sleigh) — Sun, 25 May 2008 06:30:00 +0000

The report into the deaths of 9 miners, including 3 rescuers, at Crandall Canyon in August 2007 has been released by the US Department of labor.

A pillar burst or series of pillar bursts, known as a “bump” – within the Crandall Canyon Mine blocked all exits out of what had been the South Barrier of the Main West section of the Mine. Miners were excavating the South Barrier at the time of the bump, which registered a 3.9 on the Richter scale. Debris created by the bump led to the entombment and deaths of six miners.
A second bump killed three others who were part of the effort to rescue the six trapped miners.

Also see:
A New York Times summary of the report.

Explosion protection on diesels safety bulletin

noreply@blogger.com (John Sleigh) — Sun, 25 May 2008 06:04:00 +0000

The NSW Director of Mine Safety Operations has clarified the requirements for reporting the failure of explosion-protected equipment on underground coal mining diesel equipment in Safety Bulletin number 5 for 2008.

The clarification follows inconsistencies found during investigations and audits. It provides information on typical events that must be repoerted and also lists those which need be.

Also see:
All NSW coal mining safety alerts since 1998
All NSW coal mining safety bulletins since 2006
Queensland Safety Alerts since 2000.

Response to coronial inquiry into Renison fatalaties

noreply@blogger.com (John Sleigh) — Sun, 25 May 2008 05:05:00 +0000

Peter Cook, Managing Director of Metals X has declared that "when we bring Renison back into production in the next few weeks [our aim] is to restore Renison’s reputation as one of Australia’s great mines, not only from a production sense, but as a benchmark for mining, geological and technical standards."

The statement follows release of findings by the Tasmanian Coroner on fatal accidents in 2001 and 2003, before Metals X acquired Renison.

The Tasmainian Minister for Planning and Workplace Relations, David Bartlett said that while it was "premature to provide a full response to the 109 page [corner's] report, there is no doubt that the current laws that regulate mine safety in Tasmania need reviewing."

Other links to this story:
NineMSN
ABC
Family response