Anglo American PLC (LON:AAL) has suspended production at its Grosvenor steelmaking coal mine in Queensland, Australia, following an underground coal gas ignition incident on 29 June 2024.
All emergency protocols were followed and the workforce was safely evacuated from the mine without injury. The mine team is working with specialist teams from the Queensland Mines Rescue Service and the regulatory authorities to extinguish the underground fire, prior to being able to assess the steps towards a safe re-entry into the mine. These procedures are expected to take several months as a result of the likely damage underground.
Anglo American’s steelmaking coal business expects to produce c.8 million tonnes of product in the first half of 2024, of which Grosvenor will contribute c.2.3 million tonnes. For 2024 as a whole, production guidance for the steelmaking coal business is 15 to 17 million tonnes, of which Grosvenor was expected to contribute c.3.5 million tonnes, representing lower production in the second half of the year due to a planned longwall move.
An update to steelmaking coal production guidance will be provided once more information is available.
