In 2023, Coronado’s Curragh complex, along with other Australian coal producers and exporters, was a contributor to the Australian Coal Association Research Fund (ACARP). The collaborative program for metallurgical (met) and thermal coal mines from NSW and Queensland utilises the industry’s technical competence together with the broader research and science community to develop technologies and solutions to the many challenges facing our industry. More specifically, Coronado Vice President Technical Development, Anthony De Domenico is a director on the Australian Coal Research (ACR) Board and Coronado Technical Manager, Sean Flanagan is a member of the Technical Marketing Support (TMS) committee, which looks at issues that relate to the market acceptance of Australian coal – both thermal and metallurgical.
Challenge
ACARP seeks research proposals on an annual basis that deliver significant benefit to key industry problems, including driving minimised emissions and minimising the environmental impact of the industry. The challenge of the Technical Marketing Support (TMS) committee is to recognise the importance of ensuring the long-term viability of Australian metallurgical and thermal coals in a carbon constrained world. This committee seeks to identify future research opportunities to support promotion of the benefits of Australian metallurgical coal to a shifting global market.
Solution
ACARP is a collaborative program that utilises the experience and technical strength of both the coal mining industry and research institutions in solving technical problems and addressing issues of significance to the industry’s long-term future. Any proposed research project that is strongly supported by a mine site and is of interest to multiple coal operations is encouraged. Research outcomes are exclusively shared with ACARP member companies and mines, for benefit across the Australian coal mining industry.
The program fosters industry collaboration, with a focus on the properties of Australian coals and the impact on market acceptance and value in use. In 2024, we have moved to establish a Biomass sub-committee (within the Technical Marketing Support (TMS) committee) to evaluate current trends and the prospects of various low carbon met coal production and sustainable blast furnace ironmaking technologies.
Outcomes
Through the funding of research, the industry supports the development of a talented and diverse pool of researchers with the primary objective of solving our unique challenges with research endorsed technological solutions. For the TMS committee, this includes:
- Developing a comprehensive understanding of the gasification rate and mechanism of bio met coal when compared to conventional met coal.
- Gaining insight into how new reducing agents influence the rate and quality of Pulverized Coal Injection (PCI) and met coal related to the shift from conventional to low-carbon blast furnace technologies.
As part of the critical Australian coal producer and exporter industry, with export sales worth US$2 billion, Coronado Global Resources is proud to be contributing to this research, which will increase understanding of the impact of green initiatives on existing steel making processes and models.
