BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) has commenced an innovative proof-of-concept trial at its Saraji Mine in Central Queensland, testing whether gas drainage can be safely and operationally performed in an active open-cut coal mining environment.
Methane, a naturally occurring gas trapped within coal seams, represents one of the most complex greenhouse gas emissions challenges facing the coal mining sector.
The project brings together collaborative teams from across BMA and BHP to challenge conventional operational thinking and evaluate real-world techniques for capturing fugitive emissions before extraction.
While gas drainage is standard practice in underground mining, applying the approach within active open-cut operations remains largely untested.
The early-stage trial offers a practical opportunity to evaluate the technical feasibility, operational constraints, and potential safety parameters of capturing methane on-site.
BMA Saraji Mine General Manager Dane Nielsen said the trial highlights the importance of real-world problem-solving in tackling complex environmental challenges.
“The resources we produce make an important contribution to modern life, and we’re committed to exploring practical ways to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with our operations,” Nielsen said.
“What’s exciting about this trial is that we’re taking an emerging concept and testing it in the real world.”
Gabrielle Sycamore, BHP’s Head of Power Decarbonisation, stated that methane abatement remains a critical focus area alongside renewable power procurement and fleet electrification.
“This trial will help us assess whether methane can be safely and operationally extracted in an active open cut mining environment and provide valuable operational insights that simply can’t be generated in a laboratory or desktop study,” Sycamore said.
As field testing progresses at the Bowen Basin site, project teams will collect data to assess operational performance and inform future methane management strategies across the broader resources sector.
BMA is the largest coal producer in Australia and is a joint venture with BHP and Mitsubishi Development, each owning 50 per cent. It was established in 2001.