PIMS Group subsidiary, PIMS Mining, says it has been awarded a three-year fixed term contract – with a one-year extension option – with South32’s Illawarra Coal Holdings Pty Ltd, continuing to provide supplementary labour to its metallurgical coal mine, Appin, in New South Wales, Australia.

Appin mine is around 70 km south of Sydney and 37 km north of Wollongong, which produces premium-quality, hard coking coal for steelmaking, that is transported within Australia and around the world.

The scope of the contract includes providing supplementary labour for development, longwall, outbye and coal clearance processes. PIMS will require a variety of skilled personnel to support the increase to scope, from the previous contract.

South32’s Illawarra Metallurgical Coal operations has underground mines at Appin and Dendrobium, which produce premium-quality, hard coking coal for steelmaking.

PIMS Mining was also recently awarded Preferred Contractor status and received a Letter of Intent from Malabar Resources subsidiary Maxwell Ventures (Management) Pty Ltd to provide services for the Maxwell underground bord and pillar operation, in New South Wales.

Construction of the mine entry portals for the Whynot Seam bord and pillar operation is underway with the current project timeline requiring labour on site in January 2023 with a ramp up throughout the remainder of the March quarter.

The scope of the contract includes underground mining, employing the place change system and targeting run of mine production rates in the order of 900,000 t/y-1 Mt, PIMS said. During operation, PIMS Mining will work closely with the Maxwell leadership team to manage all aspects of the operations in the Whynot Seam, including planning, production of coal, maintenance and operation of all production equipment, conveyors, infrastructure and general mine construction, as well as ancillary activities.

PIMS Group Managing Director, Richard Mills, said: “PIMS Mining has extensive experience in underground coal mining, especially in safe, high productivity bord and pillar operations across Queensland and New South Wales and are excited to bring this experience to the Maxwell operation.”