Grosvenor coalmine could be closed for years after latest incident

Anglo America’s Grosvenor mine in Central Queensland has been shut for more than a week after a “gas ignition event” forced it to be evacuated and shut down.

The fire at the Grosvenor mine on June 30

A major Queensland coalmine shut down due to an underground fire may not reopen for years, the state government has indicated – putting the future of 1400 miners in limbo.

Anglo American’s Grosvenor mine, in Central Queensland, has been shut since June 30 after a “gas ignition event” forced the evacuation of the site.

It is the second major incident to hit the mine after five workers were badly burnt in an underground methane explosion in 2020.

Resources Minister Scott Stewart said it was too early to say what would happen, amid ongoing efforts to stabilise the mine and prevent an explosion.

And he signalled it could take years for the mine to reopen, pointing to Peabody’s Centurion Mine — formerly known as North Goonyella — which shut in 2018 after an underground fire and was yet to kick into full gear.

The fire at the Grosvenor mine on June 30

Mr Stewart said the government would look to determine what changes Anglo American had put in place as called for by the Queensland Coal Mining Board of Inquiry in the aftermath of the 2020 incident.

“This is a very serious matter,” he said.

“What they have been doing is initially sealing the mind to put the fire out, once that’s contained a full investigation will take place.

“And we’ll be looking at making sure that this doesn’t happen again.

“With the 1400 … what they’re looking at doing is working with other mines to take on that workforce on a cost-sharing basis. So they are actually looking at every opportunity to keep those 1400 people employed.”

Resources Minister Scott Stewart Picture: Shae Beplate

Anglo American has committed to paying the wages of employees and embedded contractors until the end of August.

The company said it would be able to understand the ongoing permanent workforce requirements at Grosvenor mine within this time.

Opposition resources spokesman Dale Last, in Moranbah on Wednesday following meetings with stakeholders including Anglo executives, said it was clear the mine would not reopen in the short term.

A spokeswoman for Anglo American said positive progress was being made to stabilise Grosvenor mine but could not detail whether it would reopen.

“We are now actively planning for the next steps to understand the environment underground through detailed monitoring and analysis,” she said.

The fire at the Grosvenor mine on June 30

“An investigation will be carried out into the nature and cause of this incident.

“We are now working to understand the ongoing permanent workforce requirements at Grosvenor Mine and the potential internal redeployment opportunities available at other Anglo American operations in Australia, including open-cut operations.”

It is understood the future of the mine won’t be determined until mapping to understand the extent of the damage is completed.

Mining safety advocate Stuart Vaccaneo noted it was the second incident at the Grosvenor mine in four years.

He called for an independent investigation into the incident.

“No coalmine worker and their family should ever be exposed to such an unacceptable level of risk once, let alone twice during their working career,” he said.

The fire at the Grosvenor mine on June 30