UK-based mining firm Anglo American's Grasstree underground coking coal mine in Queensland, Australia is likely to stay closed for the remainder of this year after the death of a worker.
Grasstree is one of four mines that make up the 8.6mn t/yr Capcoal coking coal group owned by Anglo American and Japanese trading house Mitsui. It was closed on 11 December after a wall collapsed on a contractor working underground.
"Over the coming weeks we will review of all aspects of this tragic incident, as well as our operating processes, to ensure the mine is ready for a safe restart and continued safe operation," the chief executive of Anglo American's coal business, Seamus French, said today.
Last week's death is the second fatality at the mine this year, after an electrician died at the mine in May after being found unconscious underground.
Capcoal also operates the Aquila underground mine, along with the Lake Lindsay and Oak Park open pit coking coal mines. It produced 1.82mn t of hard coking coal during July-September, down from 1.84mn t in April June and from 1.9mn t in January-March.
joc/rjd
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