Kestrel leads the way with VAM reduction enterprise

A pioneering project at Kestrel aims to prove the value of Ventilation Air Methane (VAM) reduction technology in curbing greenhouse gas emissions from coal mines. Kestrel Coal plans to bring Australia's first full-scale Regenerative Thermal Oxidation (RTO) project for VAM abatement online at its mine 40km north of Emerald. The project - which has won $37.2 million in federal backing - is expected to have the potential to safely abate at least 50 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions from VAM. “The scale of our project will be the first of its kind in Australia and is intended to demonstrate that the safe abatement of VAM emissions for underground gassy mines is possible,” Kestrel chief executive officer Shane Hansen said. Mine ventilation systems pump fresh air into mine shafts, diluting the underground gas including methane. This produces ventilation air methane (VAM), which is vented through mine exhaust shafts. Low Emission Technology Australia (LETA) has welcomed backing for the Kestrel project as a positive step towards proving the capability of VAM reduction technology to operate effectively at scale to Australian mining safety standards. LETA, previously known as COAL21, said small-scale mine trials of RTO technology had been conducted without incident in Australia, and larger coal mining applications were operating overseas. However, the available VAM abatement safety control systems operating overseas did not meet Australian expectations “To date, LETA has allocated a total of nearly $60 million in VAM abatement projects that have been critical to the research and development of this technology," chief executive officer Mark McCallum said. "The government’s investment in a VAM abatement project is a positive step towards proving the capability of this technology to operate effectively at scale to Australian mining safety standards." Kestrel's grant came from the $600 million Safeguard Transformation Stream under the Federal Government’s Powering the Regions Fund. Related: Queensland sites share $80m to slash emissions Mr Hansen said the operation was committed to working with the relevant regulators to ensure this project complied with the strictest of safety standards and controls. "In executing this project, Kestrel would provide a blueprint for the conduct of VAM emissions reduction projects for underground gassy mines both in Queensland and Australia," he said. Not all are pleased about the grant going towards the Kestrel initiative, with the Australian Conservation Foundation arguing 'there should be no further government handouts to fossil fuels'. “While the $37 million grant will help the mine reduce ventilation methane emissions – a significant and under-reported source of climate pollution in Australia – ACF believes the public should not foot the bill on a technology upgrade for a mine that is seeking approval to extend its operations to 2050," national climate policy adviser Annika Reynolds said. Kestrel is waiting to receive terms surrounding the Powering the Regions Fund to incorporate into its development plan for the VAM abatement project. You may also like: https://industryqld.com.au/next-step-for-kestrel-life-extension-proposal/

Kestrel leads the way with VAM reduction enterprise

Industry Queensland

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