Glencore Extension Plan Raises Air Quality Concerns

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

An application from Glencore to modify and extend operations at its Mt Owen mine has raised concerns over the government's commitment to reduce air pollution.

The company hopes to take advantage of the underground Integra mine tenements it acquired in 2015, which weren't factored into the Mining Operations Plan approved in 2016.

The proposed changes would enable recovery of an additional 35 million tonnes of coal and could extend the mine's life by up to six years.

With the Hunter already dealing with air quality issues, Lock The Gate's NSW Coordinator Georgina Woods says Glencore's application needs to be considered alongside ongoing local concerns.

"We have had dozens of air quality alerts in the Hunter already this year," Ms Woods told 2NURFM News.

"But still more open cut pits are being approved and growing in size in this region."

Ms Woods says coal mining companies seem to be pushing for approvals of mine extensions that aren't yet needed and suggests it could be a move to avoid potential future environmental protection measures.

"We're still waiting for the government to bring out its promised clean air strategy, we're still waiting for the EPA to introduce measures to make sure coal mining companies are paying for the air pollution they're creating." Ms Woods said.

In a statement, Glencore said there would be no changes to open cut mining methods, annual production or major infrastructure, and that the mitigation and management of potential air quality impacts would continue to be a strong focus for their operations.

Mount Owen mine. PHOTO: Thiess

Mining workers rally against Glencore, no result yet

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Efforts to strike an agreement between mining company Glencore and its dissatisfied employees have so far failed, with tensions coming to a head yesterday at Singleton Showground.

Glencore employees, members of the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), gathered at the Showground on Tuesday to rally for new enterprise agreements after the expiration of previous agreements.

Around 1300 union members were present and calling for greater job security, higher redundancy pay and a lessening of the use of contractors within the company.

With three work stoppages at the mining giant's Hunter Valley open cut sites, Northern District President of the CFMEU, Peter Jordan, believes the 12-week disagreement has been detrimental to Glencore's productivity.

"I think it's had a major effect on their production, that's our understanding of it," he said, "They're having problems with their shipments and we're told by other coal proprietors [Glencore] are busily in contact with them for the purposes of purchasing coal to meet their shipments.

"They may have their standard line that they say to the media," Mr Jordan continued, "that the industrial action has had minimal impact on them and they're continuing to operate safely, but the fact of the matter is that's not what's reality on the job."

Mr Jordan said the union passed three resolutions yesterday in a unanimous vote. "Firstly, that the district will continue to be directed by its 1400 members to call further aggregate meetings in the event that we're not able to progress the negotiations.

"Secondly, the individual mine sites in the meantime would continue to implement stoppages and other industrial action to bring about a successful agreement.

"And thirdly, the 1300 members in attendance made it very clear they wanted to call on Glencore to come to the table and deliver on the key issues at hand."

Glencore's Ravensworth, Glendell, Mangoola, Bulga and Liddell mines are among those whose workers are being represented by the union.

Tuesday's rally at Singleton Showground. Image Source: Singleton Argus.