The company’s environmental manager Ralph Gunness has been nominated for the Prime Minister’s Environmentalist of the Year Award for his work in harnessing water generated as a byproduct of the company’s CSM production near Dalby, Queensland.

The drought-hit agricultural community is set to benefit from the recycling of the equivalent of up to 1387 Olympic swimming pools of water each year by a planned reverse osmosis plant for potable water supply.

Current users include local cattle feedlots and Peabody’s Wilkie Creek Mine, while a trial scheme with Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries to grow saltwater fish in CSM water could yet spawn a new industry west of the Great Divide.

Chief executive Nick Davies said similar projects were being discussed at Moranbah and Gladstone, in addition to other mining projects both in Australia and overseas.

The Dalby project also led to Arrow’s nomination in the Water Award category for outstanding achievement in protecting, conserving or enhancing Australia’s water resources.

In addition, Arrow’s partnership with Anglo Coal Australia at Moranbah North Coal Mine to extract coal seam methane prior to underground mining has led to its nomination for the Eco Innovation Award for significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Methane extracted from the Anglo-operated mine is currently producing 4 terajoules a day for Arrow’s Moranbah Gas Project, the only supplier of natural gas to the Townsville market.

“This partnership has delivered a win, win, win for the environment, saving the equivalent of 120,000 cars’ worth of greenhouse gas emissions through degassing the mine and another 40,000 through substitution of methane gas for coal-fired power, on top of improved production and safety,” Davies said.

The project has produced new technological innovations and safety standards, and Arrow is considering similar agreements with mine operators in the Bowen Basin and overseas.

“Arrow has signed deals in China, Indonesia and India for the exploration of CSG and all three countries could benefit from the improved safety conditions and emissions reductions provided by degassing of coal mines,” he said.