Fair methane reporting methods for coal mines

In a submission to the Authority on 28 June 2023, we noted that Australia’s open cut black coal mines have reported over the last 20 years emission intensities only about one-tenth of those reported by underground mines.

The severe under-reporting of emission by open cut mines reflects the common use of methane reporting method 1. This method is intended to give a fair estimate of average emission intensity over all open cut mines in a state, but results in under-reporting by mines with higher emission intensities.

Under the new Statutory Mechanism, the use of method 1 unfairly rewards coal mines reporting under that method, and unfairly penalizes other coal mines. It encourages open cut rather than underground mining, with environmental consequences.