Collinsville coal mine

Collinsville Coal Mine
Location
LocationSpringlands, Collinsville
Queensland
CountryAustralia
Production
ProductsCoking coal
History
Opened1919
Owner
CompanyXstrata, Itochu, Sumitomo Group

The Collinsville Coal Mine is a coal mine located in Springlands and Collinsville in the Whitsunday Region, Queensland, Australia. The open-cut mine lies in the northern Bowen Basin.[1] Collinsville produces coking and steaming coal for both domestic use and export. Exports leave the country via Abbot Point.[1]

The mine has coal reserves amounting to 196 million tonnes of coking coal, one of the largest coal reserves in Asia and the world. Collinsville has an annual production capacity of 6 million tonnes of coal.[2]

History

Mining began at the site in 1919.[1] Because it is close to the Port of Townsville where American coal-fired warships were based during World War II, men were requisition to the mine.[3]

On 1 May 1952, 150 miners took part in Queensland's first stay down strike.[4] The men stayed in the underground mine to protest the lack of payment for a days work. The miners were unable to enter the mine on 15 April due to a lack of winchman.[4]

In 1954, seven miners lives were lost at the mine in the Collinsville coal mine disaster.[5] A mining heritage centre was opened 50 years later to commemorate the disaster.[6]

Mount Isa Mines (MIM) gained a controlling interest in 1972.[1] In 2003, MIM was purchased by Xstrata.[1] Management of the mine was continued by Thiess until early 2013.[7]

In July 2013, more than 300 workers were dismissed in an effort to return the mine to profitability.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Collinsville Coal". Glencore Xstrata. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  2. ^ "Bowen Basin coal mines". bowenbasin.com. 2012. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  3. ^ Murray, Georgina; David Peetz (2010). Women of the Coal Rushes. UNSW Press. p. 55. ISBN 978-1742232218. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Collinsvile Strike". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Vol. LXXII. Queensland, Australia. 2 May 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 6 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Collinsville disaster remembered". Australian Mining. 16 October 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  6. ^ "Collinsville and Scottville". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  7. ^ "Xstrata to take over operation of Collinsville coal mine". Energy Global. Palladian Publications. 19 February 2013. Archived from the original on 5 August 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  8. ^ "Glencore Xstrata Collinsville coal mine restructuring puts over 300 jobs at risk in Australia". Coal Guru. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.

20°33′57″S 147°44′47″E / 20.56576°S 147.74644°E / -20.56576; 147.74644