A catastrophic event unfolded at Anglo American's Grosvenor Mine in central Queensland last June when methane gas ignited, sending a bright orange flame through the underground workings. In a dramatic twist, a miner working deep inside the mine, who was unaware of the explosion, made a fortuitous phone call to the surface seeking the time, an action that indirectly led to his rescue before the mine was sealed off.
The incident, which occurred at the largest underground coal mine in Queensland's Bowen Basin—a facility employing over 1,100 workers—was labeled as catastrophic despite no serious injuries or fatalities. Some workers had already started leaving the hazardous zone using a vehicle that took an hour to reach the surface, and the individual who made the call turned out to be the last person evacuated.
In the aftermath, the Mining and Energy Union has launched a thorough investigation, gathering extensive evidence including gas monitoring records, witness statements, and safety protocols from the now-silent mine. Experts from across Australia and overseas have been reviewing a staggering amount of data, marking this as one of the most comprehensive investigations in the country’s mining sector.
Uncertainty now looms over the future of the Grosvenor Mine, where production has ceased since the incident, and many workers have been redeployed. Anglo American is cautiously assessing the underground conditions with specialized cameras, aiming for a safe re-entry later this year—a plan contingent on meeting rigorous safety standards set by Resources Safety and Health Queensland. Additionally, the transition of ownership to global miner Peabody Energy adds another layer of complexity, as the final sale price depends on the mine’s ability to resume production.
Memories of a similar methane-related event in 2020 continue to haunt the workforce, with several employees still recovering from previous injuries and unease persisting among workers. The union stresses the need for an independent review to understand the full scope of the incident and to ensure that future mining operations can be conducted safely, with recommendations expected once the investigation concludes in March.