Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group (NCIG), Conveyor Containment and Dust Management

Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group (NCIG) operates one of Australia's major coal export terminals at the Port of Newcastle, with approval to handle up to 79 million tonnes of coal per year (NCIG, 2023).

The terminal was required under its project approval to minimize fugitive dust, for example by maintaining dust and weather monitors and activating dust suppression systems during certain weather events, reflecting strict New South Wales environmental regulations and community expectations regarding air quality near the terminal.

The NCIG terminal receives coal by rail at two dump stations and moves it by conveyor to the stockyard and on to the ship loaders. Conveyors and transfer points use containment skirts, load sealing boxes, and slit rubber dust control curtains and covers (NCIG, 2023). Water sprays are positioned at the chute of each transfer point from the dump station to the stockyard. When forecast or live dust risk is high, or monitors detect elevated dust, email and SCADA alerts are issued and staff complete a checklist recording the actions taken (NCIG, 2023).

Complementary dust management at NCIG includes, among others, water spray systems at stockpiles and transfer points, lower default stacking heights (12 to 13 meters) to reduce wind exposure of new stockpiles, veneering of high risk stockpiles and hardstands ahead of forecast extreme weather, and continuous dust (total suspended particulate) monitoring at four onsite locations. NCIG publishes its air quality monitoring data each month (NCIG, n.d.).