The New South Wales Government has approved a modification to the Bulli Seam Operations Coal Mine in the Illawarra, which aims to deliver environmental benefits and support jobs in the region.
Illawarra Coal Holdings will construct and operate a pilot regenerative thermal oxidiser at its Appin Mine ventilation site. This system captures ventilation air and heats it to break down methane into carbon dioxide and water, reducing emissions released into the atmosphere.
The Bulli Seam Operations primarily produces metallurgical coal for steelmaking, a key component of domestic and international supply chains. The approved modification does not change how much coal the project is able to extract.
Bulli Seam employs around 1,100 people, and construction of the oxidiser will create between 20 to 30 jobs over 12 months.
Minister for Planning and Public Space Paul Scully says once completed, the new regenerative thermal oxidiser will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 36,000 tonnes per year.
“Innovations like this one reduce emissions to progress towards our legislated emissions reduction targets,” Scully says.
Methane gas is one the most potent greenhouse gases, and over 8,000 times more impactful than carbon dioxide. It’s estimated that using the oxidiser to convert emissions from methane to carbon dioxide will reduce the mine’s greenhouse gas emissions by 36,000 tonnes each year when implemented at full scale. This is equivalent to taking 8,500 petrol cars off the road for a year.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Unsplash
