Black coal equivalent as a "black coal equivalent" product derived from brown coal was first discovered by Dr R.B. Johns and colleagues at the Organic Chemistry laboratory at Melbourne University following observations made at the Maddingley Mine near Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Dr Johns and colleagues identified that a process of low-mechanical shear applied to brown coal mixed with a small amount of moisture would trigger a natural exothermic reaction process within the coal, leading to the expulsion of its moisture content. The process fundamentally alters micro chemical bonds within the coal, naturally reducing moisture content to around 11 per cent; boosting calorific value
J & A Brown South Wales. From that time the surviving member of the Brown family Stephen Brown served as a director in the new public company. In 1960, JABAS merged with Caledonian Collieries Limited to form Coal & Allied Industries Limited. After this merger, JABAS become the subsidiary company that carried out the mining operations of Coal & Allied until being renamed Coal & Allied Operations Pty Ltd in 1980. As of 2013, Coal & Allied Operations Pty Ltd is a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Coal Australia. J & A Brown J & A Brown was an privately owned Australian coal family firm