Sister sites Moranbah North and Grosvenor’s mines rescue teams are preparing to test their skills against the world’s best in Zambia this month.
Those Anglo American teams won first and second place respectively at the 61st annual Australian Underground Coal Mines Rescue competition in October.
This achievement qualified the two Bowen Basin teams to compete at the International Mines Rescue Competition in Zambia from April 25 to May 5 this year, reflecting the depth of expertise within the Australian mines rescue fraternity.
It will be the fourth consecutive time the Moranbah North mines rescue team has competed at an international level, having previously competed in Russia in 2018, the United States in 2022 and Colombia in 2024. Grosvenor also represented Australia on the international stage in the US and Colombia.
Throughout the four days of competition, the teams will be assessed on theory and practical components. They will respond to simulations of real-life emergency situations while showcasing skills in firefighting, search and rescue, first aid, hazard awareness, and team management across high-pressure situations.
Moranbah North Mine mines rescue team manager Ian Hawkins said the teams had trained extensively to prepare for the demands of competing at international level.
“The team is really excited to be heading to Zambia to compete in the 14th international competition, especially after returning with so many insights from the Colombia event two years ago,” he said.
“They’ve had a strong season leading into this, winning the Australian competition again, which speaks to how hard they’ve been training across multiple disciplines.
“It’s the type of training where you always want to be ready, but never have to use it. And should an event ever happen, these teams are trained to manage anything they walk into.”
Grosvenor Mine mines rescue team captain Boyd Buschmann said competing internationally provided a rare opportunity to both showcase Australian capability and learn from rescue teams operating in different environments.
“Going to Zambia gives us the chance to train and compete across a whole host of scenarios — from underground search and rescue in non‑breathable atmospheres, to firefighting, water rescues, first aid and vertical rope rescue,” he said.
“We break each scenario into components and train relentlessly until it becomes muscle memory. When you arrive at an event or a real-life emergency, you want to be able to focus on the situation, not the distractions in the background.
“There will also be a mini-Olympics with a multi-disciplinary relay built for spectators to watch where the teams will be lifting loads, hammering objects, bowling hoses, carrying mock casualties and vertical ropes.
“The biggest value of these competitions is learning from other countries. Sometimes their systems or approaches are different — and better — and that’s knowledge we can bring back to Australia to strengthen our own emergency response.”
Mr Hawkins said both Moranbah North and Grosvenor qualifying for the international competition highlighted Anglo American’s strong commitment to mines rescue.
“Having both Moranbah North and our sister mine Grosvenor competing overseas is a fantastic outcome,” he said.
“It shows how seriously Anglo American takes mines rescue and emergency preparedness. The teams don’t just represent our operations — they represent Australia — and what they learn overseas will strengthen safety outcomes back home for the whole industry.”
Anglo American Vice President of Safety Heather Bell said another international campaign reflected the calibre of mines rescue capability within the Queensland steelmaking coal industry.
“Anglo American’s mines rescue teams play a crucial role in strengthening emergency preparedness across our operations and the wider industry,” she said.
“International competitions are more than just a test of technical skill, they drive continuous learning and challenge thinking.
“The professionalism, teamwork and commitment of our teams reflect the very best of our industry. Being prepared for emergency situations is crucial, whether at work or in the community.”
The event will involve teams from countries including China, India, South Africa, Colombia, Poland and other European nations competing across multiple disciplines over several days.
In Australia, Anglo American has five steelmaking coal mines in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, along with additional joint venture interests in steelmaking coal and manganese, and base metals exploration projects in Queensland.
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