Direct emission measurements for coal mines

There is increasing evidence that emissions from some Australian open cut coal mines are grossly under-reported. The IMEO-funded flights over Bowen Basin coal mines in 2022 and 2023 will provide valuable data for the current review of reporting methods.

We recommend that, for open cut mines:

• Method 1 be abandoned for emissions from 30 June 2024

• Methods 2 and 3 be urgently reviewed, taking into account the IMEO results

• a Method 4, using direct measurements, be urgently developed,

• coal mines be required to use Method 4, when available, to measure emissions daily

• coal mines be required to report emissions quarterly

• flights or satellites be used to check mine reports

• research be carried out on temporal emission variations, as they may cause flights or satellites to overstate average emissions

• the Clean Energy Regulator have the right, for Safeguard and UNFCCC purposes, to adjust emission reports taking into account flight or satellite observations.