2020 THE COAL INDUSTRY’S RESEARCH PROGRAM WWW.ACARP.COM.AU 1 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT ACARP’s role is to identify the coal industry’s research needs; Welcome to our 2020 ACARP Report. select and award research projects; and manage the research Ken Singer Manager Mine Control (UMM) BMA Much has been and will be written of 2020 with the impacts program, including communicating the outcomes to the industry of COVID-19 far reaching. ACARP was not immune. Saleable in a way that best accelerates their implementation. The focus Peter Smith General Manager HS Centennial Coal production recorded by ACARP for FY20 was 444.8 million tonnes continues to be on improving safety, boosting productivity and and ACARP funded $18.7 million in direct research spend. During minimising the environmental impacts of mining. Considerable Trevor Stay General Manager Gas Anglo American the second half of 2020 coal production reduced in response to focus this year has included research of dust particulate matter depressed coal demand. COVID-19 has had a minimal impact Andrew Swiericzuk Project Manager-Studies, Coal Australia Rio Tinto measurement, impacts and prevention and mine site rehabilitation on ACARP operations as we elected to curtail some service and the re-purposing of final voids in post mining landscapes. activities such as face to face meetings and travel. Reduced work A number of significant projects included in this report are funding approved 2015 arrangements introduced by Researchers including access to continuing, and we believe that these too will provide great workplaces and laboratories, travel restrictions limiting access benefits to the industry. year No of Projects ACARP Funding Total Funding to sites for field research activity and reliance on items from overseas impacted research activity. ACARP funded 270 research projects during the year to a value of $75.98 million. Additional new funding of $19.89 million for 91 2015 26 $5,552,568 $7,498,470 A key milestone for 2020 was the execution of a new projects and two PhD scholarships was approved during 2020. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the Minister for 2014 23 $6,346,269 $11,485,909 In 2019 we funded $20.4 million. This is a significant effort from Resources, Water and Northern Australia, Hon Keith Pitt MP, a volunteer organisation and a tribute to what we can achieve as 2013 20 $4,780,342 $10,524,373 representing the Commonwealth, and the Minerals Council of an industry. The research program continues to deliver valuable Australia. The MoU extends ACARP for a further five years to outcomes and with the assistance of over 230 industry people June 2025. On behalf of the Australian Coal Research Board, I who volunteer their time, ACARP is ideally placed to continue projects under management 2015 would like to express our gratitude to our Executive Director, Ian providing ongoing leadership in coal research in Australia. Neill for his efforts in concluding the five-year ACARP extension and the new ACARP tax class ruling. I thank everyone involved in ACARP. Please enjoy the 2020 Category No of Projects ACARP Funding ACARP Report. Over the past 28 years, since ACARP’s inception in 1992, the Detection and Prevention of Fires and Explosions 3 $2,269,085 program has directly funded a research investment of plus $367 million which has led to high value innovations for the Australian Steve Burgess Chairman, Australian Coal Research Limited Board Environment - Subsidence and Mine Water 3 $917,480 coal mining and METS sectors. It is anticipated that over the five- Exploration 8 $1,851,837 year extension period ACARP will fund a further $100 million in world class research and development that improves workplace Maintenance 6 $1,576,648 health and safety, supports sustainability, boosts performance and productivity in mining, coal processing and market support. Mining Technology and Production 9 $3,872,326 Occupational Health and Safety 8 $2,317,743 Roadway Development 4 $3,788,094 Strata Control and Windblasts 12 $3,380,411 Ventilation, Gas Drainage and Monitoring 9 $2,966,974 02 5 INTRODUCTION ACARP – the Australian black coal industry’s research program • Strategic planning - is the nation’s pre-eminent coal research funding organisation. It was established in 1992 and is fully funded by a levy of 5 BOARD • Allocation of funds cents per tonne of product coal paid by all Australian black • Corporate and program governance coal producers. ACARP is a collaborative program that utilises the industry’s • Program overview - technical technical competence together with the broader research and • Definition of strategic projects science community to develop technologies and solutions to RESEARCH COMMITTEE the many challenges facing our industry. This program helps • Sustainability issues producers to combine their expertise and resources and share the risks and rewards. • Definition of priorities Underground Committee The sustainable production of coal remains the primary objective • Project selection of the program. Major regional issues such as water resource • Technical oversight management and impact of noise and dust on local communities Open Cut Committee • Task groups are of major importance, as are safety and productivity. • Nomination of Industry Monitors This publication documents how the ACARP levy contributions Coal Preparation Committee have been invested during 2020. People are the most important aspect of ACARP and are listed in Technical Market Support Committee this report falling into 4 categories. • The Researchers who undertake each project. Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Committee • Industry Committee and Task Group members who evaluate and guide each proposal and provide funding recommendations. Industry Monitors • Provide technical guidance • Industry Monitors who provide technical guidance for projects. • The Board which provides corporate and program governance. Australian Coal Research Limited (ACRL) Australian Research Administration (ARA) • Program management • Project administration • Levy collection • Distribution of outcomes • Board secretariat • Committee secretariat THE COAL INDUSTRY’S RESEARCH PROGRAM WWW.ACARP.COM.AU 03 AT A GLANCE Vision Key facts: To assist the Australian black coal industry develop and adopt • Invests approximately $20 million annually in research projects. world leading sustainable mining practices and, through • Is fully funded by Australian black coal producers via a levy of collaboration, to ensure a sustainable position for the global use five cents per tonne of product coal, currently committed to of coal. June 2025. Mission • Operates under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Commonwealth Government and the Minerals Council Utilise the collective technical competence and resources of of Australia. the Australian black coal industry to develop and manage a comprehensive research program which, through technological • The technical strength and industry focus is provided by the and process innovation, assists coal producers achieve 200+ senior technical people who are members of the technical their financial, environmental and social objectives for committees, task groups and Industry Monitors. sustainable development. • ACARP research projects are hosted at many mine sites. To maintain their position as world leaders, Australian coal • Has provided nearly $387 million in direct funding to 1,877 producers must be profitable, innovative and, at the same time, projects since ACARP’s inception in 1992. mindful of their social and environmental obligations. Through ACARP, they combine their expertise and resources to direct and fund world class research that benefits the whole industry. As a key driver of research and development in the coal industry, ACARP has responded by broadening its research focus. Today our projects cover a wide range of subjects, from developing and enhancing technology to reduce production costs, to improving safety for mine workers and to measuring our impact on the communities within which we operate. 04 THE BOARD Australian Coal Research Limited is responsible for strategic planning, funding and the overall management of ACARP. Board of Directors and Alternates * DIRECTORS Steve Burgess Executive General Manager Digital Services Centennial Coal Lachlan Cunningham Manager Mine Services South32 Illawarra Coal Brett Domrow Mine Planning Manager New Hope Group Colin Duck Executive General Manager – Asset Management CS Energy Tony Egan Manager Project Governance Glencore Coal Assets Australia Frank Fulham Executive General Manager – Technical Support & Projects Yancoal Greg Hurney Manager Mechanical Engineering and Projects Bloomfield Collieries Peter Kane Chief Operating Officer QCoal Group Frans Knox Head of Production BHP Mitsubishi Alliance Chris Lauritzen General Manager - Resource Development MACH Energy Australia Shaun Leary General Manager Technical Services Whitehaven Coal Ian Neill Executive Director Australian Coal Research Brian Neilsen Director of Engineering - Open Cut Mining Peabody Australia Carl Pritchard General Manager, Technical Services Jellinbah Group Trevor Stay General Manager Gas, Energy and Infrastructure Anglo American ALTERNATE DIRECTORS Greg Briggs General Manager Engineering Centennial Coal Sharif Burra General Manager, Safety Yancoal Bertus de Jager Senior Vice President - Technical Services Peabody Australia Hayden Leary Executive General Manager – Planning and Operations QCoal Group Brad Lucke Principal Electrical Engineer - QLD Glencore Coal Assets Australia Chris