Peabody has developed a multitiered plan in an effort to extinguish a fire at its North Goonyella mine in Queensland and contain the impacts. The plan was reviewed by the Queensland Mine Inspectorate and is undergoing implementation at this time. The underground mine and surface areas remain restricted to access through exclusion zones while the work continues.
The elements of the plan include implementing use of a mobile GAG unit, a specialist piece of equipment that generates high-moisture inert gases to displace oxygen supply at a fire zone; and installing temporary seals into mine openings following completion of risk assessments and using remote-control equipment to pump a fire-resistant expandable material called Rocsil. The plan also includes additional drilling and sealing of the old longwall panel to ensure the area is further isolated. The company will work with air quality monitoring experts on a voluntary program of environmental monitoring at North Goonyella, including regular site visits and boundary inspections to assess and analyze air quality data from key points. The company will also make sure all safety protocols are in place and strict risk assessments are performed.
“Working in consultation with the inspectorate and third-party experts, we’re moving safely and as quickly as possible to address the situation,” said President Peabody Australia George J. Schuller Jr. “Peabody appreciates the ongoing work of the team at North Goonyella, the inspectorate, independent technical experts, Queensland Mines Rescue Service, union representatives and all of the people who are engaged in the response to this issue.”
The company noted that the fire is ongoing, and it is too early to assess the extent of impacts.
Peabody does not expect any production from North Goonyella in the fourth quarter of 2018 and has a small amount of coal in inventory to ship. The company said it is too early to assess the full financial impact to future periods as a result of the ongoing issue, however, with strong performance from other mines, the company is maintaining its full-year 2018 metallurgical coal sales volume targets of 11 million to 12 million tons.
The mine shipped 1.6 million tons in 2016 and 2.9 million tons in 2017. North Goonyella ships a high-quality hard-coking coal that typically realizes at or near the premium hard-coking coal benchmark.
