Bens Creek Group plc, the owner of a recently re-opened metallurgical coal mine in North America, has announced that Ben’s Creek Operations WV LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the group, has entered into a contract to purchase a Superior highwall miner and related highwall mining equipment for use at the Bens Creek mine.

The company plans to deploy the new highwall miner in the June quarter of 2022.

The highwall miner and associated equipment is anticipated to be delivered next month and complements the successful implementation of the first highwall miner operated by Mega Highwall Mining LLC (MHW) pursuant to the contract mining services agreement with MHW, Bens Creek said. The MWH contract allows for a minimum production capability of 40,000 tons (36,287 t) of coal per month, which equates to 480,000 tons/y. 

The capacity of the Superior Highwall Miner, a company owned by Terex Corp, being acquired is broadly in line with the highwall miner operated by MHW.

The purchase price of the second highwall miner and related equipment is $2.5 million with $100,000 being payable on signing of the agreement and the balance to be paid within 30 days. The purchase price of the highwall miner is being funded from the group’s available cash resources.

Adam Wilson, CEO of Bens Creek, said: “I am delighted we are buying this highwall miner, rather than renting it, as we have been able to negotiate attractive commercial terms. The potential to double our production capability in such a short period of time since the commencement of initial coal production will provide increased operational capacity as we seek to increase levels of production from the Bens Creek mine and in turn gives us the ability to boost revenue generation.”