Editor's letter

Recent accidents have led to questions of how safety at Australia’s mines can be improved and accusations that safety reform has stalled. In this issue, we explore challenges to mining safety regulation in the country and efforts in progress to improve safety for mine workers through technology, policy and training.  

Miners in NSW are expanding existing coal projects, while in Queensland several large greenfield developments are in the pipeline – but all face challenges in funding and environmental regulation. We look at the prospects for coal expansion in an era of uncertainty. 

Meanwhile, the future of mining is rapidly evolving with new resource potential opening up on the ocean floor and in space. We check in on the prospects of deep-sea and extra-terrestrial exploration. 

In technology, we speak to Green Gravity about it’s work in converting disused mines into clean energy storage with digital twins, and look at the different types of robots used in mining and their benefits for operators.

The MINE team