The Bowen Basin Symposium 2025 in Mackay brought together mining, energy, and technology leaders to explore critical issues shaping the future of coal and gas. Under the official theme, “Supporting the Transition,” the symposium remains one of the premier forums for addressing challenges in the Bowen Basin, including safety, decarbonisation, and resource development.

Over the course of the week, sessions covered topics such as methane emissions reduction, emerging automation technologies, and strategies to ensure the region’s long-term role in global energy supply.

Verbrec’s Contribution

We were proud to contribute our expertise through a presentation by Erik Vandenberg, General Manager, Growth & Energy Transition, on Hybrid Risk- Based Process Safety Management Approaches to Management of High Gas Content Mining Leases.

Our approach addresses the challenges of managing gas across both underground and surface operations, bridging regulatory gaps and integrating safety and risk management into a single, unified framework.

Erik highlighted the need to bridge the gap between two regulatory approaches:

• Coal Mines Safety & Health Act (CMSHA): Traditionally prescriptive, relying on procedures and administrative controls.
• Petroleum & Gas (P&G) Act / WHS Act: Risk-based process safety with engineering and system controls.

By integrating underground and surface gas systems into a single risk framework, operators can manage hazards more effectively and recognise methane not only as a safety challenge but also as a potential resource.

Practical Pathways

During the Symposium, Erik outlined strategies that Verbrec applies in practice to improve safety and sustainability:

• Bowtie visualisation & barrier health monitoring – improving visibility of risk and control effectiveness.
• Smarter detection technologies – enabling earlier and more accurate hazard response.
• Methane-to-energy solutions – converting emissions into energy, supporting decarbonisation and ESG goals.
• System integration – eliminating surface–subsurface disconnects to improve system efficiency and control.
• Stakeholder confidence – demonstrating regulatory leadership, building community trust, and showing clear emissions management.

Key Takeaways form the Symposium

Discussions across the event reflected the Symposium’s focus on “Supporting the Transition”

• Methane emissions management is central to both worker safety and climate commitments.
• Automation and technology enhance productivity while ensuring rigorous safety standards.
• Integrating mining and energy practices is essential to future-proof operations in the Bowen Basin.

Looking Ahead

Verbrec’s presence at the Bowen Basin Symposium reinforces our commitment to applying innovative safety frameworks and transition strategies in high gas content mining. By bridging regulatory approaches and unlocking methane’s potential as a resource, we are helping operators improve safety outcomes and advance towards a lower-carbon future.

For a deeper dive into the technical research and case studies presented, the Conference Proceedings are available to download: (BBS2025-Program-Proceedings)