A MINING company hoping to renew its permit to search coal beds in Wyndham has moved to quell concerns of contamination, saying its technology is a “non-invasive and non-toxic” process.
Melbourne-based miner Regal Resources has narrowed its licence parameters to a 17,000-hectare area surrounding Mount Cottrell, Eynesbury, Exford and Balliang East where it intends to continue trialling an underground methane-production technology.
Known as EL4507, the licence previously spanned most of Wyndham and parts of Geelong, Melton and Hobsons Bay but expired in September.
The renewal is under consideration by the Department of Primary Industries.
Regal Resources director Rohan Gillespie told the Weekly the company was excited about its licence in the region, after tests of its patented coal-to-liquids technology at a pilot plant in the You Yangs yielded positive results. In its application, Regal has pencilled in two alternative trial sites between Exford and Mount Cottrell.
Mr Gillespie said the process of converting low-rank coal into a crude oil substitute, by pumping steam into the coal beds and liquefying coal underground, posed no environmental concerns.
“Non-toxic materials are injected into the coal seam to stimulate indigenous bugs in the coal to produce methane,” he said.
“It’s a very respectful technology and something that, if it proves viable, should have no adverse impacts on the environment.”
But Western Region Environment Centre director Harry van Moorst slammed the miner’s plans, saying the area covered protected native grasslands and would bring coal activity closer to homes in Melbourne’s western growth corridor.
“If they get the go-ahead for this on the basis of this exploration licence, the reality is that within five years Wyndham and Melton will be seen as the backyard of coal. I don’t think that’s what people want,” he said.
“As for the the environment, we don’t know the effect yet, but we have a high water table here, so if the pilot plant is contaminating ground water then it’s contaminating our grasslands.”
Mr Gillespie said Regal’s process had no impact on water quality and it would respect protected areas. He also ruled out the possibility of open-cut coal mining.
