Top coal caving technology is to be implemented at the Yanzhou Coal-owned Austar coal mine near Cessnock. China’s Yankuang Corporation developed the technology in China where it has proven effective in thick seams.
The ABC news reported Union officials had been to China to examine the mining technique and were reportedly impressed.
Vice-president Ian Murray, however, called for more ventilation and higher airflow onto the coalface than is used in China. In addition, Murray said he’d like to see guards over the equipment and slower mining rates.
