Project Description

This mining project name as Caval Ridge Mine. Main investor of this project is BHP Billiton
Mitsubishi Alliance coal operations private limited. Site is mainly situated in south west of
Mackay Queensland. The mine industrial area (MIA) and coal handling and preparation plat
(CHPP) is in about 16km form Moranbah. This mine is function within the Isaac River
catchment.

Caval Ridge Mine decide to process their own coal at an on-site CHPP. Coal handling and
preparation plant was planning to build on early 2010 and first coal proceed in 2013. This Caval
Ridge Mine planning to produce open cut mining operations using dragline and truck/shovel
equipment’s and they willing to produce 5.5 Mtpa of hard coking coal product primarily for the
export market. The Cavel Ridge Mine CHPP will produce 5.5 Mtpa in the beginning and they
plan to increase gradually up to 8 Mtpa of coal product. In Peak Downs mine site already
produce 2.5 Mtpa which is belong to same company but not a part of Caval Ridge Mine. They
assume this mining site can produce coal for export market upto 30 years of time period.

Green House Gasses and Background

In Cavel Ridge Mine project they consider greenhouse gas assessment with considering 5 main
points.

1. Compare the Annual emission rates of local and global

2. International and national policy requirements for GHG emission
3. Direct and indirect sources of greenhouse gas emissions for operation of the mine
4. Proposed GHG reduction measures
5. Risks to project from climate change impacts.

Greenhouse gases absorbs the thermal radiation which is reflect by the earth to the space and
emits radiation within the thermal infrared range to the atmosphere. When talk about the
greenhouse gases emission, in industrial zones they contribute huge percentage emission for the
environment. Greenhouse effect is a natural function that helps in increased the world
temperature on 15 Celsius. Otherwise it may around -18 Celsius. In present situation is different
than the past because of globalization most of the countries emit major greenhouse gases which
make the largest contribution to global warming are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4),
nitrous oxide (N2O) and Ozone (O3).

(Source: US Environmental Protection Agency)

Global warming and Climate change

Due to global industrialization, climate was changed rapidly in past few decades. As a part of
these kind of involvements this mining project also must overcome with these assessments. The
intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) was established in 1998 to helps and provide
essential information about global climate change. They implement their fourth assessment
report in 2007 with including the findings of the panel. When comparing the human activities
since 1750 to present, 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions increased during the time period
of 1970 to 2004. To minimize this pattern people were implement precautions to the industries.
In above assessment they said 35% of atmospheric CO2 concentration has risen due to increase of
fossil fuel use. They assume that content of methane (CH4) also increased 715 parts per billion
(ppb) to 1774 ppb in end of 2005 as a result of fossil fuel use and agricultural outcomes.

However due to global warming, in present climate will change rapidly and it badly impacts for
the temperature increasing. As a result of this sea level rising, melting snow and ice glaziers,
fires, droughts and various impacts happens to global and the community.
References

(2020). Retrieved 5 April 2020, from http://eisdocs.dsdip.qld.gov.au/Bowen%20Basin%20Coal

%20Growth%20Proj%202%20-%20Caval%20Ridge%20Mine/EIS/EIS/3-project-
description.pdf

(2020). Retrieved 5 April 2020, from http://eisdocs.dsdip.qld.gov.au/Bowen%20Basin%20Coal

%20Growth%20Proj%202%20-%20Caval%20Ridge%20Mine/EIS/EIS/11-greenhouse-
gases.pdf

Primer. (2020). Climate change, what is it? Understanding the basic facts about global warming.
Retrieved 5 April 2020, from https://warmheartworldwide.org/climate-change/?
gclid=CjwKCAjw4KD0BRBUEiwA7MFNTRoCRPJ8F0p7hVKqZtky-gfy9Mefs-
1vMRjgeRhufuZf5NY_088GchoCx8kQAvD_BwE