Saraji coal mine explained

Saraji Coal Mine
Place:Dysart
State/Province:Queensland
Country:Australia
Owner:BHP Mitsubishi Alliance
Products:Coking coal
Opening Year:1974

The Saraji Coal Mine is a coal mine located near Dysart in the Central Queensland region of Australia. The mine has coal reserves amounting to 648 million tonnes of coking coal, one of the largest coal reserves in Asia and the world. The mine has an annual production capacity of 10 million tonnes of coal.[1] It is located in the Bowen Basin, an area with significant coal deposits and numerous mines. It is owned by the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA).

Saraji mine utilises open-cast extraction methods. It has a total of 11 coal seams. The strikes are on average four km wide and extend for 30 km in a north–south orientation.

Coal is processed via a CHPP (Coal Handling and Processing Plant) consisting of three stages: Coarse - DMCs, Fines - Reflux Classifier, and Ultrafines - Flotation.Prestripping of 42 million cubic metres of overburden each year is conducted by the HSE Group.[2]

Coal is exported via the Goonyella railway line.

History

Construction work at the site begin in 1972 with the first coal produced in 1974.[3] In 2009, the mine won the People's Choice Award for its feeder blockage removal device at the Queensland Mining Industry Health and Safety Conference.[4]

Miners at Saraji and six other BMA mines went on strike in February 2012 over working conditions.[5] Work stoppages commenced in 2011. Meetings between union members and BMA began in December 2010.[6]

On 15 January 2024 a worker at the mine was killed after being pinned between two vehicles.[7]

See also

References

-22.4066°N 148.2889°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bowen Basin coal mines. 2012. bowenbasin.com. 2013-07-03.
  2. Web site: Saraji Mine Site (BMA) . HSE Group . 22 September 2013 .
  3. Web site: Saraji . MiningLink . 22 September 2013 .
  4. News: BMA Coal takes out safety gong . Michael Mills . 22 September 2013 . 26 August 2009 . Australian Mining .
  5. News: Thousands of BHP coal miners walk off the job . Brian Robins . 22 September 2013 . 15 February 2012 . BusinessDay . Fairfax Media .
  6. News: Possible 24hr strikes at Bowen Basin mines . Jessica Burke . 22 September 2013 . 19 July 2011 . Australian Mining .
  7. News: Barnsley . Warren . 16 January 2024 . Man, 27, killed in accident at coal mine in Dysart, Central Queensland . 7News . 16 January 2024.