Longwall mine evacuated as dangerous gas levels detected
By Industry Queensland
Workers evacuated from Anglo American’s Moranbah North underground mine yesterday after dangerous gas levels were detected.
Resources Safety and Health Queensland said it was alerted yesterday afternoon to high levels of carbon monoxide being recorded at the Bowen Basin coal operation.
An RSHQ directive is in place suspending re-entry to the underground mine.
An Anglo Amercian spokeswoman said all personnel were safe following an overpressure event at the Moranbah North longwall face.
“The underground environment is under continuous monitoring and this indicates a stable atmosphere,” she said.
“Resources Safety and Health Queensland was informed immediately, as were site and industry safety and health representatives.
“Next steps will be determined in consultation with RSHQ.”
The hard coking coal operation is located 16km north of Moranbah in the Bowen Basin.
Anglo American has entered into agreements to sell its Moranbah North, Grosvenor, Aquila, Capcoal and Dawson operations in the Bowen Basin to Peabody in a $5 billion-plus transaction expected to close in the third quarter of this year.
Related: Anglo working towards Grosvenor mine re-entry
The Grosvenor operation is still out of action after coal gas ignited in June last year, causing a fire in the underground workings.
