The underground fire at Grosvenor coal mine has been frightening and upsetting for the whole mining community, according to Mining and Energy Union Queensland president Mitch Hughes.

And a workforce of 1400 is in limbo while the future of the Anglo American operation remains unclear.

The Grosvenor workforce was evacuated on Saturday after coal gas ignited at the Moranbah district mine, which was also the site of an underground gas explosion in 2020 that seriously injured five workers.

While work continued to control the fire, Mr Hughes said the union was focused on the wellbeing of the workers at Grosvenor.

“We are aware that many workers are feeling shocked and traumatised by Saturday’s event and we are working directly with members and with the company to ensure workers receive counselling and other health support they require at this time,” he said. 

“Workers were provided with transport home in the wake of Saturday’s event and remain on normal pay at this stage.

“Timelines and prospects for reopening the mine remain unclear for now. 

“We are holding regular meetings with Anglo to discuss the evolving situation at the mine and the outlook for workers.”

Related: Grosvenor pay pledge amid mine fire battle

Resource economist John Rolfe, who is Professor of Regional Economic Development with CQ University’s School of Business and Law, said the coal industry was very solid – so there were good prospects for most of the workforce to be absorbed into other parts of the industry (including within Anglo), assuming that the Grosvenor mine would not reopen in the near future.

But there may be some who would have to relocate or transition.

In terms of the impacts of the Grosvenor event on Moranbah, he said it would be a blow because any major reorganisation of employment tended to create a more transient workforce.

“So even if some of the workforce transitions to other employment in the Bowen Basin, there will probably be some migration of people/families out of Moranbah and perhaps some population churn over the short term,” he said.

In an update last night, Anglo American noted positive progress towards the temporary sealing of Grosvenor mine.

“The sealing efforts mean the amount of oxygen available to the underground fire has greatly reduced,” the company stated.

“The QMRS ( Queensland Mines Rescue Service) mobile extinguisher unit (GAG) continues to help in this effort. As a result, smoke continues to reduce.”

Anglo said remote-controlled technology was a key tool in its safe response, with dozers from Anglo American’s Capcoal and BMA’s Saraji mines assisting with the temporary sealing. (Image at top of page)

Isaac Regional Council, MEU and Anglo American leaders said they were continuing to collaborate on a daily basis with a focus on getting the Grosvenor mine stabilised and keeping the local community safe and informed.

“Grosvenor mine is a significant employer in the Moranbah region and takes its commitments to its people and the community seriously,” they said in a joint statement.

“We know its positive impact reaches far beyond the mine gates. We acknowledge that this event may be causing uncertainty for the workforce and local community.

“The priority for the team on site is to safely extinguish the underground fire by temporarily sealing the mine. Specialist emergency response teams, including the Queensland Mines Rescue Service, RSHQ, ISHRs (MEU) and mines rescue teams from neighbouring mines, are managing this from the surface.

“We are working closely together to keep the community informed of the potential impact from smoke. We have been in contact with the environmental regulator (the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation).

“DESI monitoring units are providing air quality data for particulate matter in the Moranbah area and those air quality readings have so far remained within DESI’s ‘Good’ (green) quality category.

“External health specialists have reassured us that, based on current information they have, there is no impact to community health. However, any member of the community concerned about the risk to them or their family, should seek medical advice.”

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