Chris Smith heads 280m underground at Airly Coal Mine

Sky News host Chris Smith has headed 280 metres underground at Airly Coal Mine in New South Wales and taken a look at the processes required to produce the “invaluable resource” of coal.
In an Australian television first, Mr Smith broadcast from inside Airly thermal coal mine to see how it works, what emphasis is placed on safety, how they reach the seams of coal and what happens at the coal face.
He said the coal mine is an “inhospitable workplace”, but what is being produced is an “invaluable resource for Australia and the world”.

[@method341]

I've worked underground before and let me tell you, it takes a unique sort of person to want to work down there long term.....

[@meganmckenzie3389]

From this Australian, I say thank you.

[@Tassie_tiger]

Same. I've spent many years down the hole. Mainly nickel and gold though, not coal.

[@itsame6150]

To you Han and Tassie Tiger thankyou a lot of people couldn't work underground. It's funny how most of the criticisers are pen pushers or should I say now keyboard tappers at their office desks

[@LxToranaHatchy720hp]

You mole 🤣🤣

[@jamesmichell7256]

I've been a career coal miner working my way through the ranks for 15+ years and let me give you the mail, you are not wrong it takes a very different person to work in a underground coal mine but the brotherhood is like no other and I wouldn't have changed it for the world!!! All these supposed greenies need to have a good think where the steel came from in their car, house, bridges they crossed, and everything else they use came from. Unless they are rolling around on a horse n carriage and they need to put their opinions up their arse because it's nothing but hypocrisy

[@michaelhoward5333]

Mining obviously is the backbone of rural Australia, it's a way of life to support families and communities, great people and hard work ethic

[@HSFY2012]

That may all be true, but coal mining is also inconsistent with a zero carbon future. Those emissions need to be curtailed and sooner rather than later, and it is unfortunate that these politicians will continue to sell lies to their constituencies to avoid hard decisions about the future of the industry.

[@ItsThatMilkshake]

No, its not you muppet. It employs FAR less people than you think.

[@sendesilva1857]

not just rural australia mining is the backbone of this countrys economy periodt. it's literally what pays for all the roads and rail way lines in sydney and melbourne

[@purebloodbabyfuhrer785]

Coal is responsible for our modern lifestyle. Thank you coal. A, gift from heaven.

[@purebloodbabyfuhrer785]

@Anti Slav and Alpine Serb Bigot 🤮

[@purebloodbabyfuhrer785]

@Anti Slav and Alpine Serb For some reason your comment on my channel got deleted. KZbin algorithm doesn't like hate I guess. 😂

[@purebloodbabyfuhrer785]

@Anti Slav and Alpine Serb So you're correct about subhumans running the tube. The tube is run by "the chosen ones" 😂 😂 😂

[@purebloodbabyfuhrer785]

@Anti Slav and Alpine Serb Accually the central and Eastern European nations are the strong ones. Meanwhile western European nations and Australia is being replaced by foreigners.

[@Pemalite]

Heaven? Prove it exists. Down with big coal.

[@MysteriousMarsupial]

Clean Coal is nature's answer to Snowflakes ❄

[@Ligmajohnson01]

Start utilising it properly for Australians not selling it all

[@Dudman83]

If we didn’t sell it we would only need 1% of what we mine. Imagine what would happen to our economy if we stopped selling the 99%

[@mickhelliar2502]

I am now medically retired, but miss the mateship of being down there everyday. I was at a mine a few years back and caught up with 3 guys i was in the infantry with. Its the mateship that bonds us all, and i miss it everyday......

[@RW-nr6bh]

I worked in coal in Britain, as did my dad and uncle. Our deep mines are closed now. I enjoyed the work although I must admit I wouldn't go back now I have a new career. In the long term I am sure the world will move on from coal, but it can't happen overnight. I think coal will have a place for some time to come, and we should try to use it as efficiently as possible. What I hope Australia doesn't do is just throw the Coalfield communities on the scrapheap when they finally do move on. Britain handled the rundown of coal dreadfully.

[@bobbythompson3544]

Loved this report, greetings from Ireland!

[@craigbullock8245]

Great story.

[@michaeldamiani3436]

Thank you Chris Smith. We need more of these programs to counter the green left rantings and non scientific pontificating.

[@sendesilva1857]

thank you coal for everything u have given us

[@robertfleming2654]

We have the best coal in Australia.👍

[@coal_man]

We have the best coal in the world

[@meganmckenzie3389]

THANK YOU. Finally some actual journalists out in the field.

[@meganmckenzie3389]

@ur couzin Don't talk down to me. The dumbest person I know (at their worst) is about 100 times smarter than you on your best day.

[@jimothygreen8879]

@@meganmckenzie3389 Does the dumbest person you know also confused an advertisement for journalism?

[@meganmckenzie3389]

@@jimothygreen8879 No, but at least they can construct a sentence without errors.

[@meganmckenzie3389]

@ur couzin My opinion is my own. I don't troll your opinion though. It is called freedom of speech. Stop trolling other people for theirs and engage people with your experience.

[@frankinz2995]

@ur couzin An add? Lmao. Yep, after watching this video, I really want to duck out to 7/11 and buy a bag of coal. BTW, Being from the area, Ben Kelly is a friend of mine and I’ve known him since a kid. Very good bloke, and would have more decency and character than most of the lefty mob put together.

[@l0ts0ffac32]

Thanks for this Chris, we need more on-the-ground reporting like this in future, also god bless our miners and godspeed to them all.

[@JIMDEZWAV]

HOW DAAAAARE YOU ! - ::: )

[@Pemalite]

He is paid for by big coal. This is BIASED reporting to push an agenda.

[@clintcharles360]

Good work.

[@damo780]

Love matching fluoro gloves and hard hat

[@clintonweier3264]

Great stuff Chris!!

[@monabo1]

Dude ain't wrong

[@shauns5680]

Well done Chris. Hats off to you for going where few of us even think about. It’s far too easy to take for granted the job those brave coal miners do. The latte sipping left rely on coal to power their MacBooks and mobile phones yet are so ungrateful for what it provides us and the effort needed to mine it. Clean coal technology is crucial to our economic future. You deserve a journalism award for bringing it to life into the lounge rooms of the community.

[@19501952]

No side shields on his glasses.

[@davewoods8539]

Fascinating, thanks.

[@eddiedst9066]

Great film, well done.

[@Pdiddy2400]

1 year on and only 9400 views. People really don't like to hear about the truth. Better leave it burried along with our heads in the sand.

[@mickhelliar2502]

Thank you for this story Chris..........

[@geoffmcmahon3288]

Well said. As a long time advocate of coal thermal, you have produced a great report

[@markc1456]

Coal is out greatest resource! We need more coal stations asap!

[@steveyray8852]

Great video 👌🏻

[@jarrheadja1522]

It's called the rib not the wall when you're Underground

[@midnorthmidwest3128]

Keep it in pristine condition please When my grand children ask what a coal mine was I might like to show them one

[@mrbillhilly343]

We shouldn't exhaust our coal reserves, coal is also valuable in steel making. Look at nuclear & Thorium as power generating options too.

[@jamesmichell7256]

Big difference between coal used for power and coal used for manufacturing steel my friend!!

[@napalm5]

There should be an emphasis of safety at the staff Xmas party

[@suerichards47]

Probably the only time he has got dirty besides. What comes out of his mouth. Talk about a swinger left then right. I appreciate someone who sticks to their principles

[@twalgoolan4249]

His little excursion proved nothing. Coal is only valuable if someone buys it.

[@admiralsnackbar2811]

How deep is that in freedom unit's?

[@conservativeview7233]

Salt of the earth

[@michaelcummins4207]

280m down......wow!!! Try 2klm down

[@Rajarya253]

How much the gradient of this coal mines sir?

[@allinengineering8168]

you are earning well now remember after 20 years working in poison gas environment you have to spend that money back on your lungs and body.

[@thatonegayfurry4177]

how come chriso here can stand at the tail of the miner without isolating it and i cant lol. na great vid mate

[@jamesmichell7256]

🤣

[@adamweaver8533]

This isnt propaganda

[@anotherview5651]

He has got the black lung now and has to retire 😅

[@jamesmichell7256]

That's not funny mate I have friends and family that have and are dying from that terrible disease, pneumoconiosis is no joke and a horrible slow painful way to die!!

[@idontwantahandle852]

Groper Chris Smith!

[@lwilcox7418]

Lucky there was no drink and females down there, otherwise things could of taken a turn for the worse... 🤦‍♂️