Gunmen kill 21 Pakistani coal miners

Dozens of armed attackers stormed a cluster of small private coal mines in the mineral-rich province of Balochistan in southwestern Pakistan on 10 October, killing at least 21 and injuring six, reported Reuters. “The armed terrorists remained for around 1-1/2 hours in the mining area,” regional police official Asif Shafi told Reuters. “They fired rockets and hurled grenades at the…

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Anglo American takes next step toward coal divestment

Anglo American has reportedly hired Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Centerview Partners – all previously brokers to the company – for the sale of its steelmaking coal assets, which analysts value at as much as $5 billion, reported Reuters. In May, the miner’s CEO Duncan Wanblad said that it would soon sell off its five operating coal mines, development projects…

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China encourages digitalization of coal production

China’s National Energy Administration said the country vows to further accelerate the “intelligent construction” of coal mines.  The agency encouraged all coal-producing provinces, coal industry management departments, and relevant central enterprises to step up efforts to promote the intelligence transformation of major production processes at coal mines, and to support the stable supply of coal.  Additionally, the agency advocated for…

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Regulator orders Russell Vale to cease mining operations

The New South Wales Resources Regulator has prohibited Wollongong Resources’ Russell Vale Colliery to mine coal due to ongoing safety concerns, reported ABC News. The Mining and Energy Union told the news service that there have been at least five significant frictional ignition events at the underground mine in the past eight months. “The prohibition notice will remain in place…

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India sees success in coal auction

Since launching in June 2020, India’s Commercial Coal Mine Auction has successfully sold 91 coal and lignite mines. Six of these mines have already started producing coal and three more are expected to begin production in a couple of months. The Ministry of Coal has so far completed seven rounds of the transparent online auction. It said the ongoing eighth…

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India Coal Ministry issues vesting orders for six mines

The Coal Ministry of India has issued vesting orders for six coal mines and agreements for two mines, bringing the agency’s total so far to 80 under its commercial auction scheme. The ministry said the orders were issued on 14 December; out of the six coal mines whose vesting orders were issued, two coal mines are fully explored mines and…

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Leaders in mine safety and technology honored by NMA, federal agencies

In a ceremony in Washington, D.C., the National Mining Association (NMA), the U.S. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) honored outstanding achievements in mine safety, technology and reclamation. Full story.

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