Grasstree CMWG VAM Flaring Project (Revoked)

Grasstree CMWG VAM Flaring Project (Revoked) was an industrial fugitive emissions project located at the Grasstree underground coal mine, approximately 25 kilometers southwest of the town of Middlemount in Central Queensland. The project was registered in June 2018 and covered the mining lease area within the Bowen Basin, a region globally significant for its high-quality coking coal reserves.

The project operated under the Coal Mine Waste Gas (CMWG) methodology, specifically targeting Ventilation Air Methane (VAM). In underground coal mining, vast amounts of air are flushed through mine shafts to dilute explosive gases and keep workers safe. This "ventilation air" contains low concentrations of methane that are difficult to capture. This project involved installing specialized oxidizers or flaring devices to capture this dilute methane and combust it. This process converts the methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into carbon dioxide, which has a significantly lower global warming potential.

The Middlemount region is characterized by a semi-arid to sub-tropical climate with hot summers and mild, dry winters. Rainfall is highly variable, typically averaging between 600mm and 800mm annually. The landscape is dominated by open grazing land and scrub, supported by fertile cracking clay soils (Vertosols), often referred to as "black soil," which are common across the Central Highlands and coexist with the region's heavy industrial mining footprint.

This specific project was short-lived; it was voluntarily revoked in September 2019, just over a year after its registration. The revocation occurred under Section 30 of the CFI Rule, which indicates the proponent, Our Energy Group Pty Limited, chose to withdraw the project. The Grasstree Mine itself is part of the larger Capcoal complex, managed by Anglo American, and utilizes longwall mining methods that necessitate rigorous gas management systems.