Leading Technologies in Managing and Controlling Coal Spontaneous Combustion in the Australian Coal Mining Industry

Of all risks facing coal mines, spontaneous combustion (sponcom) of coal, resulting from the reaction of coal and other carbonaceous materials with oxygen, is the major safety concern. The heating not only threatens lives but also causes delays in production and can seriously damage the resource, making some of it un-mineable and emits toxic and greenhouse gases such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. A number of sponcom incidents have occurred in recent years in Australia coal mines, leading to the closure of a coal mine, major production losses, and safety concerns. The sponcom continues to occur in the Australian coal mines. This paper gives an introduction to the status of the sponcom, describes current sponcom management systems and control technologies, and discusses the future needs to better manage and control the sponcom in the Australian coal mining industry.