Australian Coal Association Research Program Information

ACARP is a unique and highly successful mining research program that has been running in Australia since it was established in 1992. It is 100% owned and funded by all Australian black coal producers through a five cents per tonne levy paid on saleable coal. ACARP's research covers a wide range of important areas including all aspects of the production and utilisation of black coal including health, safety and the environment. ACARP has contributed to Australian coal research in a way that individual companies could not have otherwise achieved. It combines resources and expertise from individual producers and shares the risks and benefits across the industry. The ACARP model has effectively demonstrated the wisdom of pooling research funds with the benefit of considerable leverage of R&D expenditures to address wider industry problems. Research and technology will remain critical in sustaining future competitiveness in an industry faced with technical, operational and human resource challenges as mines became deeper and the best quality deposits are depleted. Through an annual round of funding ACARP supports those projects that enjoy industry wide support and involvement. Each year the ACARP Committees select approximately 70 projects from the 300 submitted. These projects are detailed in our People & Projects Report. The selection and approval processes are set out in the calendar and approval structure.