Underground coal mining operations commenced in the Goonyella Middle Seam (6m nominal thickness) in the early 1990s with the development of North Goonyella Coal Mine (White Mining) and Moranbah North Coal (Shell Coal). BMA developed the Broadmeadow Mine at Goonyella Riverside in 2004 and construction commenced for the Grosvenor Mine (Anglo American) in 2012.
Longwall operations were always difficult with strata conditions resulting in significant delays combining with remnant coal left in the goaf, numerous spontaneous combustion events occurred, however, before 2018 there was never a mine fire or methane explosion.
The 6 mine explosions or fires in 6 years from 2018-2025.
1. North Goonyella has had previous spontaneous combustion events and has sealed 2 longwalls due to spontaneous combustion. In September 2018 during the recovery of the 9 North Longwall at North Goonyella a spontaneous combustion of coal in the goaf developed. Action taken to control the spontaneous combustion was ineffective. The spontaneous combustion resulted in a mine fire. The mine was unable to be rapidly sealed. Numerous methane explosions occurred during the fire in the goaf.
North Goonyella Mine Fire- Mining Accident Database
RSHQ has not released any investigation report into the incident despite it being perhaps the most significant mine event in Queensland since the Moura 2 disaster in 1994 (24 years earlier).
2. On the 6th of May 2020 two methane explosions occurred within 16 seconds of each other in the goaf of Longwall 104 at the Grosvenor Mine. 5 workers near the Tailgate end of the face were severely burned by the flame from the second methane explosion suffering life-threatening burns. Thankfully due to the emergency response and medical treatment, none of the workers died.
2020 Grosvenor Explosion- Mining Accident Database
There was a Board of Inquiry into the explosion. The findings of the Board of Inquiry are questionable, in fact ridiculous. Requests for a review of the findings of the Board of Inquiry to authorities were dismissed. RSHQ refuse to release the Inspector's Investigation Report into the explosions.
3. A month later on the 8th of June 2020, another explosion occurred. 2 weeks earlier on the 20th of May increased gas and temperature levels were detected and monitored in the goaf behind #96 chock on the Longwall face. Mitigation efforts were ineffective and the heating continued to develop. On the 8th of June 2020, a ventilation change was made to reduce oxygen to the area, approximately an hour later an explosion occurred. The 104 Longwall was sealed. That part of the mine was never re-entered. RSHQ refuse to release the report into the explosion.
4. In February 2021 there was an event in the goaf at Moranbah North Mine causing a pressure wave resulting in the reversal of ventilation on the longwall face. Several thousand parts per million of Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide were detected in the goaf. Speculation of the cause of the pressure wave is that it was most likely a methane explosion. RSHQ has not released any report into the explosion.
5. On Saturday morning the 29th of June 2024 a methane explosion occurred in the goaf of 105 Longwall at the Grosvenor Mine near the tailgate end of the Longwall face. Fortunately, there were no injuries and the mine was evacuated, however, the explosion initiated a methane fire which continued to burn for a week until the mine could be sealed.
9 months later there is no report following the explosion. Even if there was, the experience above is that RSHQ will refuse to release it.
2024 Grosvenor Explosion and Fire- Mining