Faulty cables spark coal mine safety fears
Safety concerns have been raised at the Anglo-owned Moranbah North coal mine over faulty electrical cables.
The mine, west of Mackay in north Queensland, was under investigation last year after four roof collapses occurred within three months.
This time it is the burn-out of 17 underground electrical cables within three months that has ignited safety concerns.
A mining union fears the series of electrical cable burn-outs at the Moranbah North and Aquilla coal mines could spark a devastating underground gas explosion.
The Construction, Forestry, Mining, and Electrical Union says cables should burn out at the rate of one a year.
In newspaper reports, Anglo Coal admitted isolated electrical problems at Moranbah North and announced that an effective cable management strategy had been put in place.
