A REHABILITATION SUCCESS STORY

A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN DENDRA AND THE JELLINBAH COAL MINE HAS LED TO THE CREATION OF FOUNDATIONAL REHABILITATION TECHNOLOGIES AND METHODOLOGIES.

Technology has aided the evolution of the mining industry in countless ways. It has improved the synergy of the mining value chain, driven higher safety standards, and created new environmental opportunities, to name a few.

For the Jellinbah mine in Queensland's Bowen Basin, technology has facilitated greater environmental understanding and vision of an expansive coal operation.

Through its mission to deliver actionable insights at scale, Dendra has provided Jellinbah the platform and technological smarts to proactively plan and implement its rehabilitation practices.

As Jellinbah environmental superintendent Nigel Ryan explained, the collaboration between the two parties has been one of firsts.

"With the help of Dendra, we have been able to tailor environmental data to what is most beneficial for the Jellinbah mine site and to what is required by the regulator," Ryan told Australian Mining.

"We've developed new solutions and methodologies as part of this."

Like any mine, the Jellinbah operation is subject to its own unique erosion challenges, which not only affects the mine's ability to appropriately rehabilitate its land but can also lead to compliance issues when eroded material is transported off-site.

"When the site receives moderate rains, eroded material can be transported into drainage channels, creeks or rivers, and then potentially off site," Ryan said.

"This then becomes a compliance issue, because you're not controlling your contaminants on-site, which may be in breach of your environmental authority and licence to operate."

To mitigate the mine's erosion risks, Jellinbah and Dendra have established a transparent and reciprocal relationship that simultaneously supports the continued advancement of Dendra's technology and Jellinbah's environmental practices.