GM3 is pleased to announce the approval of the CATCH4 Project, a 12-month pilot of innovative ventilation air methane (VAM) abatement technology at Appin Mine’s No. 2 Ventilation Shaft.
Following approval by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), construction is expected to commence over the coming weeks. The pilot plant will be fully commissioned, operated and decommissioned throughout 2027-28.
The CATCH4 Program, led by Mining3 and funded and supported by Low Emission Technology Australia, brings together industry partners to advance methane abatement technology for the Australian coal mining industry. As a valued member of LETA with a strong commitment to safety and innovation, GM3 is hosting the Appin trial and providing access to the site infrastructure needed to evaluate the technology under real VAM conditions.
Over the 12-month period, the project will trial and demonstrate Hybrid Regenerative Catalytic Oxidation (HRCO) technology under real-world operating conditions with the support from Tab Resources.
HRCO is a novel technology that breaks down methane into carbon dioxide and water at lower temperatures than conventional Regenerative Thermal Oxidation methods. This technology has the potential to provide a safe and cost-effective solution for the destruction of methane commonly found in ventilation air from underground coal mines. The trial will help determine the technology’s technical and operational feasibility, future scalability, and impacts on environmental performance.
Appin Mine’s No. 2 Ventilation Shaft was selected for the trial because it has the existing ventilation infrastructure and operational controls needed to support a project of this scale. Taking place entirely within the existing approved site footprint, the project will not cause any additional land disturbance. All temporary equipment will be removed from the site once the pilot is complete.
As part of the approval, three Pollution Studies have been added to the Appin Mine Environment Protection License (No. 2504). They provide a comprehensive monitoring and reporting framework across each project stage.
The CATCH4 Project, along with GM3‘s existing Appin VAM Abatement Project, forms part of GM3’s ongoing commitment to improving environmental performance across its operations and supporting innovation in the coal mining sector.