<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/in-the-fog-of-grosvenor-fire-has-labor-gone-backwards-on-coal-mine-methane-emissions-reporting/>
"This week, millions of Australians have been shocked by the ongoing gas fire
burning at Grosvenor coal mine. The scenes of billowing smoke that have been
burning for over a week, serve as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers
Australian coal miners face everyday.
But for many who read the story from outside the mining sector, the idea that
gas comes out of a coal mine might have been as shocking as the fire itself.
The reality is that methane is constantly being emitted from mines across the
country. The potent greenhouse gas, released from within the coal seams, is as
common to a coal mine as a dusty helmet and a hundred tonne truck.
In many coal mines where emissions are directly measured, methane makes up more
than 75% of the mine’s total emissions, before the coal is shipped off and
burned. This is also the case across open cut coal mines that have historically
used state-regulated emissions factors to estimate their methane intensity.
However, not every open cut coal mine has followed these recommendations.
Since 2011, many open cut coal mines have taken up the option to drill into
their coal mines, collect core samples and conduct their own emissions
estimates. Under tight controls and with transparent reporting, this process
should enable more accurate estimates at individual mines, especially in super
gassy mines.
Overall though, the results across each state should align with state-regulated
emissions estimates, which are based on averages and have been extensively
revised every few years.
The results however are starkly different."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
