The Mining and Energy Union (MEU) has given an update on its investigation into the cause of a fire that burned for almost a month in July 2024 at Anglo American’s Grosvenor coal mine in Queensland.
It all started on June 29 when reports of an explosion and ensuing blaze underground led to the evacuation of all 150 personnel from the mine, with no injuries reported.
The fire continued until July 25 when extensive seal and suppression efforts from Anglo managed to extinguish the flames.
Grosvenor has remained shuttered since, with preliminary works beginning by Anglo teams in recent months to determine the extent of the damage underground.
The MEU announced it would be launching an investigation late last year to determine not only how the fire occurred, but whether it would support a reopening of the mine.
MEU officials have spent months gathering documents like witness statements, gas monitoring records and safety plans, according to the ABC. Experts have been reviewing what is reported to be more than 90,000 pieces of data.
“The ultimate goal is to have an understanding of what happened and why and then develop recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future,” MEU industry health and safety representative Jason Hill told the ABC.
“There’s definitely progress being made but whether we can put our hands on our hearts and say that we can find out exactly what caused the explosions is another issue altogether.”
While Anglo American has been fully cooperative and supportive of the investigation, Hill said it’s important its investigation remains independent.
“We need to be in control of our own destiny,” he said. “We want to be able to sit down, form our own opinions, make our own recommendations. It’s important to be independent.”
The MEU is expected to release a full report next month.
Recovery works undertaken by Anglo have found limited damage underground, with crews aiming to re-enter Grosvenor by the end of 2025, a plan contingent on approval from Resources Safety and Health Queensland.
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