February 9, 2015
Research and innovations supporting mining industry on show at Coal Conference
The latest advances in coal mining technologies that will help Australian operators remain competitive in the global market will be addressed this week at a three-day conference at the University of Wollongong (UOW).
Members of the rock bolting research team, (L to R) Dr Ali Mirza, Haleh Rasekh, Prof Naj Aziz and Xuwei Li, inspect a sheared cable.
The fifteenth annual Coal Operators’ Conference (Coal 2015) will address issues and developments related to underground and surface coal mining, covering topics from mine safety through to machinery innovations and mine management.
Australia's coal industry experienced a tumultuous 2014 with prices dipping and producers restructuring operations in the face of increased supply.
The Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE) reported in its December 2014 Resources and Energy Quarterly that Australia produced more than 425 million tonnes of metallurgical coal and thermal coal in 2013-14, with exports worth more than $40 billion.
Coal 2015 Chairman and Convenor Professor Naj Aziz said the cost-intensive industry would increasingly look to make productivity gains through improved processes and technologies.
“The coal mining industry had a tough 2014 with declining exports to China,” Professor Aziz said.
“We are likely to see a turnaround with the emergence of India as Australian coal importing giant in not too distant future.
“The Coal Operators’ Conference continues to be a source of knowledge for the mining industry that will help producers to take advantage of emerging markets and improve safety and efficiency at the mines here in Australia as well as exporting not only coal but new technologies and innovations for overseas miners.
“Already UOW has been placed in good position with a recent agreement with the government of Gujarat, India, for the development of an International Centre of Excellence in Mining.”
The conference will host up to 100 delegates from Australian mining operations as well as attendees from China, Japan, Iran, USA, India and the Czech Republic.
The technical sessions of the conference will feature the latest research developments in 41 papers from UOW and other Australian universities.
David Gilbert tensions a rock cable for shear testing in UOW's mining research lab.
A key feature of Coal 2015 will be the pioneering work developed at UOW to test roof bolts for underground mines.
Professor Aziz said the work enables a simulated test of large cables and bolts that are used to reinforce rock in underground mines.
“Rock bolting is replacing the old systems of installing heavy steel arches, particularly for underground roadways both in coal and hard rock mines,” he said. “Bolts are lighter, cheaper and can be manipulated to provide effective ground reinforcement surrounding the rock face.”
When underground rock formations move they can shear the bolts or cables. Previous laboratory testing methods did not provide a realistic picture of what occurs underground when a bolt or cable is cut.
Professor Aziz’s team has developed equipment and methods of testing that have been recognised as the world-first technology that is attracting global attention.
“Several leading mining companies and manufacturers of the support elements from Australia, and beyond have utilised the facilities and services at the School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering,” he said.
Research on rock bolting at UOW began in the early 1980’s and an overhead rig for bolt pull testing was installed in 1985.
Currently a team of seven researchers are engaged in further development of the technique and program has attracted significant research funding from the industry locally and internationally as well as funding from the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP).
Coal 2015 is jointly organised by UOW, the Illawarra Branch of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Mine Managers Association of Australia.