With more than 60 submitted quality papers, the conference is poised to be a lively and technically thought-provoking gathering this year, conference chairman associate professor Naj Aziz said.

“The international interest in this event is a clear demonstration of the increasing importance of the conference to the coal mining community worldwide,” he said.

While papers come mainly from Australia, there are also papers from Canada, China, Germany, Iran, Pakistan, Poland, the UK and US.

The conference is jointly organised between the University of Wollongong, the Illawarra Branch of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and Mine Managers Association of Australia.

“Topics covered in the conference will include headings development, mining methods, equipment and machinery, information technology and communication, ground control instrumentation, rock and cable bolting, mine ventilation, gas drainage, outburst control, mine fires and spontaneous combustion, mine dust, risk management and legal issues,” Aziz said.

Particular focus is on the mine operators’ papers and issues relating to efficient and safe mining.

On mining methods, one paper will examine the geotechnical considerations of longwall top coal caving (LTCC) at Austar coal mine; another paper will discuss the partial pillar extraction system at Tasman mine.

A special paper will discuss the development of a new integrated sensing system designed to provide real-time coal seam horizon feedback information to optimally guide underground coal mining production equipment.

There will be several papers from equipment and service suppliers and research organisations on safe communication and tracking technologies for underground operations. This will include papers on digital networks and an integrated approach to communications with underground operations through communications, tagging and collision avoidance systems.

With recent increasing interest in roadway development and the subsequent setting up of ACARP’s roadway development task group, several papers will be presented to address various issues aimed at improving roadway development.

Topics covered include: equipment automation, latest technologies on strata reinforcement, and risk management.

“The ultimate aim is to increase the overall rate of roadway development as well as providing a safer working environment for underground mine personnel,” Aziz said.

A significant number of papers on the topic of mine safety will be presented.

On mine gases and outburst control, there are several papers from Australia and overseas. Issues under the spotlight include gas reservoir assessment and gas drainage optimisation, residual gas content of coal, and carbon dioxide storage in abandoned mines.

There will be several papers on mine dust and control, including dust mitigation in Australian longwalls and development of a water mist-based venturi system for dust control.

There are also several papers on mine fires and spontaneous combustions. Mine entry and data management and control of the information flow during emergency situations are discussed in a number of papers.

“As in previous years, the conference is generously sponsored by various coal mining and other companies and other organisations, BHP Billiton – Illawarra coal holding, Peabody Energy Australia, Anglo Metallurgical Coal Australia, Minova International, Jennmar Australia, and Becker Mining Systems,” Aziz said.

“There also exists the opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their products at the conference.”

For further information on the conference and online registration, visit http://www.coalconference.net.au.

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