Tag Archives: Hunter Valley

Australian Pacific Coal puts in equipment orders for Dartbrook restart

Coal technology, Mine operation news, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Steel and iron ore, , , , , ,

Australian Pacific Coal Limited (AQC) has commenced drawdown of its debt facility, and is now embarking on a plan to re-start mining at the Dartbrook coal operation, in New South Wales, Australia, with an aim of producing first coal in the middle of 2024.

The company recently executed a three-year $60 million debt facility with Vitol Asia Pte Ltd to fund this redevelopment.

This has allowed Australian Pacific Coal, as the Dartbrook operator, to place firm orders for critical equipment and long lead items, including the remaining sections of the underground conveyor system and materials for the refurbishment of the above ground coal handling and preparation plant and train load out.

Crews have been recruited and will initially complete the construction works and subsequently resource the first two production panels. Production equipment has been secured for the first panel and equipment for the second panel is now on site.

AQC and its partners are currently evaluating a range of options to accelerate the restart work program and ramp-up period within forecast expenditure limits. The acceleration strategy that AQC will pursue with its partners is based on optimising the mine plan to allow for an additional continuous miner to operate in a second panel earlier than originally planned. The modifications are expected to result in increased production in year one.

Encouraged by earlier studies, AQC will also further examine the potential of Dartbrook mine to produce commercial quantities of semi-soft coking coal under the current mine plan, noting the substantial premium metallurgical coal is currently trading at when compared with thermal coal.

Australian Pacific Coal’s Interim CEO, Ayten Saridas, said: “This is an exciting period for AQC and the Dartbrook mine which is a high quality asset that has been in care and maintenance since 2006. Since we announced the completion of the Dartbrook restart funding package in January, we have focused on moving the project forward on multiple fronts. With the funds now fully available for the development, orders have been placed for critical equipment and long lead items, and we have begun recruiting additional key personnel.

“Our primary focus will be to bring forward certain ramp-up activities to allow us to commence mining operations in a second panel much earlier than originally planned. We remain confident that this will translate into an increase in production volumes in the project overall.”

AQC operates the Dartbrook coal mine, in the Hunter Valley, within the Dartbrook Joint Venture company, which comprises Australian Pacific Coal Limited (80%, via subsidiaries) and Tetra Resources Pty Ltd (20%, via subsidiaries).

The Dartbrook site has access to world-class infrastructure, a skilled workforce and support industries used by major mining companies in the region, AQC says. Dartbrook produces a high-quality thermal coal (Newcastle specification) that is typical of the Hunter Valley with the potential to produce some semi-soft metallurgical coal.

Schenck Process Mining closes in on key Sandvik integration milestone

Comminution of minerals, Mining equipment, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, , , , , , ,

A little over nine months after being acquired by Sandvik, Schenck Process Mining (SP Mining), the global mineral processing related business of the Schenck Process Group, is close to achieving what it says will be a significant milestone as part of its integration into the Sandvik Rock Processing Solutions Business Area.

Each of Sandvik’s three business areas – Manufacturing and Machining Solutions, Mining and Rock Solutions and Rock Processing Solutions – have several divisions responsible for the R&D, production and sales of their respective products and services.

Since the acquisition of SP Mining, Sandvik has been focused on bringing together its expertise in crushing with the screening, feeding, weighing and loading know-how of SP Mining. According to Sandvik, the union between its Rock Processing Solutions Business Area and SP Mining will allow it to provide even more value to the mining industry.

SP Mining’s President Asia Pacific, Terese Withington, says the scale of Sandvik’s operations and commercial reach will help to accelerate the combined innovation portfolio of Sandvik Rock Processing Solutions and SP Mining. She says that, together, the company aims to deliver even better digitalisation, sustainability and productivity solutions.

“Since we became part of Sandvik’s Rock Processing Solutions Business Area late last year, we have been working through the integration process which will eventually see SP Mining become a seamless part of the Sandvik organisation,” she said. “Our Australian operations are the largest part of SP Mining’s global business, employing around 450 industry professionals. As such, Australia is playing a key role in the overall integration.”

In August, the company will reach a significant integration milestone with around 50 of its Australian employees moving from the combined sales, engineering, services and R&D facility in Beresfield, New South Wales, to the Sandvik Hunter Valley site in Heatherbrae. The Heatherbrae complex houses several Sandvik divisions and, according to Withington, the move provides excellent opportunities for the business.

“The scale of the Heatherbrae complex is impressive. It caters well to the needs of our people as well as to our future growth ambitions,” she said. “This is a very positive move, which will bring our people even closer to our customers in the Hunter region.

“As we move through our integration, we continue to look forward to servicing the needs of our customers and remain fully focused on the delivery of high-quality equipment, consumables, OEM spare parts and services to help them achieve their business objectives.”

Orica, Origin partner on ‘Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub’ feasibility study for Kooragang Island

Environmental, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining, , , , , ,

Orica and Origin have announced a partnership to assess opportunities to collaborate on the development of a green hydrogen production facility, and associated value chain, in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia.

Signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Orica and Origin will conduct a feasibility study into the viability of a green hydrogen production facility, or ‘Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub’, and downstream value chain opportunities.

The feasibility study will assess ways an industrial hydrogen hub could enable use cases that support a meaningful green hydrogen industry in the Hunter Valley and beyond, Orica said. This includes the supply of hydrogen for heavy industry and transport, conversion into green ammonia at Orica’s existing Kooragang Island ammonium nitrate manufacturing facility, blending hydrogen into natural gas pipelines and the potential to stimulate Australia’s hydrogen export industry.

Green hydrogen, produced via electrolysis using renewable electricity sources, has emerged as a potentially significant enabler of Australia’s transition to a lower carbon economy. The proposed hub would produce green hydrogen from recycled water sources and renewable electricity, using a grid connected 55 MW electrolyser.

Orica Chief Executive Officer, Sanjeev Gandhi, said: “We’ve been operating our Kooragang Island site for over 50 years, and are committed to ensuring both our manufacturing facility and the Newcastle region remain competitive in a low carbon economy, while also strengthening Australia’s domestic manufacturing capability.

“We support both the Federal and New South Wales Hydrogen Strategies, and this partnership will allow us to define opportunities and ways we can contribute to a more sustainable future for the region.

“This partnership aligns with our corporate strategy and our ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, and our target to reduce our scope 1 and 2 operational emissions by at least 40% by 2030. By partnering for progress, we can drive sustainable change and achieve our decarbonisation ambitions, together.”

The project marks an important step in transitioning Orica’s business model towards a lower carbon economy, it said. Exploring opportunities to diversify, Orica is committed to ensuring its Kooragang Island facility remains competitive in a lower carbon economy, while creating more sustainable products for customers and broader applications for industry.

The project builds on several initiatives to enhance the long-term sustainability of the site, including the recently announced Kooragang Island Decarbonisation Project and planned installation of an Australia-first tertiary catalyst abatement technology for decarbonisation of nitric acid production. The A$37 million ($27 million) project is designed to deliver up to 95% abatement efficiency from unabated levels, reducing the site’s total greenhouse gas emissions by almost 50%.

NSW regulator recognises Thiess and MACH Energy’s Mount Pleasant mine rehab work

Environmental, Mine operation news, Mining industry recognition, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , ,

Thiess’ Mount Pleasant Operations (MPO) team has been recognised by the New South Wales Resources Regulator for its industry-leading rehabilitation practices, it says.

Recently publishing an information release about the operation’s rehabilitation controls, the regulator recognised how the team enables long-term landform design stability and manages surface water drainage networks through strong quality assurance measures, according to Thiess.

Thiess, in collaboration with MACH Energy Australia (MACH Energy), has introduced quality assurance controls including the sign-off of inspection and test plans across each construction phase – design, bulk shaping, topsoil placement, ripping and seeding and drain construction, to support progressive rehabilitation and reduce ongoing liabilities.

Thiess Environment & Civil Manager, James Anderson, said these controls provide an unmatched foundation for sustainability, maximising rehabilitation outcomes and managing compliance with confidence.

“The implementation of these controls is an example of how we channel our global experience and insight to create advantages for our projects,” Anderson said. “Our proven systems and processes help deliver immediate efficiencies, reduce rework time and lower life of mine costs for our clients.”

Some 2.5 km from Muswellbrook in the Upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales, the Mount Pleasant Operation’s complex landform design aims to meet end land use objectives while minimising impacts and delivering a more visually appealing landscape for the local community, Thiess explains.

Since 2017, Thiess has provided construction services to MACH Energy including bulk profiling and shaping of mine spoil, construction of drainage networks, erosion and sediment control structures, final surface preparation, installation of habitat features, topsoil ripping, seeding and planting.

This includes delivering the operation’s first rehabilitation two months before first coal was mined.

Thiess Environment Superintendent, Peter York, says the team’s robust processes and strict quality controls are critical to ensuring rehabilitation is delivered on time and to design specifications.

“Our rehabilitation is not just about quantity,” York said. “The final outcomes have to be quality as well, capable of meeting an agreed end land use. To help facilitate this, we work with MACH Energy to identify improvement opportunities to proactively manage environmental risks and adapt to changing regulatory conditions and evolving community expectations.

“Our systematic approach is helping us achieve industry firsts for rehabilitation while restoring self-sustaining native woodland ecosystems.”

Thiess will continue to deliver a full suite of mining services at the Mount Pleasant Operation, including rehabilitation, under a new 4.5-year contract extension commencing in April 2022.

Thiess extends relationship with MACH Energy Australia at Mount Pleasant

Coal technology, Environmental, Mine operation news, Mining services, , , , , , , , , ,

Thiess has been awarded a contract extension by MACH Energy Australia to continue providing mining services at the Mount Pleasant Operation in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia.

The contract extension, which will commence in April 2022, will generate revenue of approximately A$920 million ($678 million) to Thiess over four-and-a-half years.

Having commenced operations when Mount Pleasant was a greenfield coal mine in 2017, Thiess is to continue providing full-scope mining services including drill and blast, overburden removal, coal mining services and rehabilitation.

Thiess Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman, Michael Wright, said: “Since 2017, Thiess has provided expert planning and optimum mine sequencing to deliver exceptional outcomes for our client. This contract extension builds on our strong five-year relationship with MACH Energy at Mount Pleasant. We’re pleased to continue to drive long-term social, environmental and economic value for the Upper Hunter region.”

Thiess Executive General Manager Australia & Pacific, Shaun Newberry, said: “We’re proud to continue our work at Mount Pleasant where we have a proven track record of delivering industry-leading environmental practices. We also look forward to continuing our strong relationship with the Muswellbrook community to ensure we deliver mutually beneficial outcomes.”

Thiess says it has a strong presence in the Hunter Valley where it provides mining services at three mines.

Fenner Dunlop addresses critical conveyor uptime with iBelt BeltGauge

Bulk handling, Communications in mining, Equipment maintenance, IoT, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining services, Mining software, , , , , , , ,

Fenner Dunlop has introduced mobile capability to its suite of iBelt conveyor technology with the BeltGauge solution offering a new way for customers from all commodities and conveyor industry applications to accurately monitor health of the conveyor, the company says.

The fixed BeltGauge solution has been installed at multiple sites since its launch in September 2020, with the industry appreciating how lightweight the mobile unit is when compared with competitor products, according to Conveyor Technology Manager at Fenner Dunlop, Sam Wiffen.

“We have been experiencing high interest and up-take with the fixed BeltGauge unit, however we recognised that some customers required a more mobile solution,” Wiffen says.

“In order to be functional for the mobile context, we needed the unit to be lightweight, flexible and adjustable – properties which have been incorporated into the design and are a strong point of difference from competitors.”

The mobile BeltGauge unit is made from 3D printing a wide range of engineering composites and plastics-based compounds. This contributes to the safety of conveyor technicians by reducing manual handling risks on site.

“The segmented mobile BeltGauge design allows us to install the scanning units in tighter spaces, without having to overhang the unit above handrails,” Wiffen says.

Both the mobile and fixed BeltGauge have been designed to meet all customer requirements, regardless of geographic or commodity group, and are applicable for surface and underground mining applications, the company says.

“The mobile BeltGauge is designed for customers with critical conveyors, who are comfortable with periodic data and are more focused on the ability to record belt thickness across a range of operational conveyors,” Wiffen explains.

Unlike traditional manual thickness testing, the mobile BeltGauge provides customers with a full-length profile of the belt. Because of the mobile nature of the unit, multiple conveyors can be scanned in a single shift, according to the company.

Reporting directing into iBelt’s DigitalHub portal means customers have access to same-day results, the company says.

The iBelt mobile BeltGauge is currently in operation with Fenner technicians in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales and Mackay in Queensland, with field trials currently underway in Western Australia.

Sales and Engineering Manager, Shailendra Borade, explains that developments to the mobile BeltGauge also include the ability to collect belt thickness readings while the conveyor is running, allowing customers to conduct maintenance inspections without stopping production.

“For our customers in Western Australia and other similar sites, who operate 24/7 and have very few shutdowns in the year, this means they can scan the belt before shutdown, review the data, and plan and forecast belt changeouts with latest information and improve belt life and asset health,” Borade says.

“This is huge asset for our customers, reducing overall downtime and improving production efficiency.

“Operating in a niche industry, it’s crucial that we are able to differentiate our products and services, while providing added-value to the customer.”

As Fenner Dunlop expands the range of iBelt products, both mobile and fixed applications will be considered, it says.

Thiess cuts dust and noise emissions at Glencore’s Mt Owen coal mine

Coal technology, Communications in mining, Environmental, Mine operation news, Mining safety, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , ,

Thiess, in partnership with its client Glencore, has come up with a proactive approach to environmental management to ensure dust, noise and blasting emission impacts are minimised on local communities at the Mt Owen coal mine in New South Wales, Australia.

Working together with Glencore, the team has developed a range of controls including leadership training and education sessions, noise and dust risk forecasting, targeted sound power testing of operating equipment and real-time monitoring technology.

Thiess Senior Environment Advisor, Linda Lunnon, said the real-time data enables the operational team to monitor dust and noise levels and respond swiftly to changing weather conditions.

“Paired with regular visual inspections, the technology provides further guidance throughout each shift, enabling our leaders to readily modify operations as needed,” she said. “The system also triggers SMS alerts to relevant personnel if dust or noise levels reach a defined threshold. This provides a prompt for operational staff to reassess controls and implement further actions if required.”

Lunnon said the forecasting systems also allow the Mt Owen team to plan for adverse weather conditions.

“Dust and noise are two of the highest environment risks for our projects in the Hunter Valley, and we are continually monitoring and refining controls that can assist in managing these risks,” she said.

Thiess’ environment team believes engaging its people is critical to effectively managing risks.

“We prioritise continued support and coaching of our people to ensure they understand the context and importance of our environmental controls and can get optimal value from the systems we’ve developed,” Lunnon said. “We educate them on the monitoring of data, trends and how they can apply their knowledge to minimise short-term and longer-term community impacts.”

Thiess Environment and Civil Manager, James Anderson, recognises his team’s ability to stay abreast of emerging environmental trends in industry and legislation to reduce risks and identify and action opportunities for our client.

“Our Mt Owen team works closely with our wider operations in the Hunter Valley to collaborate on solving problems and achieve tailored dust and noise management solutions,” Anderson said.

More broadly, the Mt Owen team works with Thiess’ wider operational and technical teams to design and deliver integrated solutions that optimise overall mining and rehabilitation efforts.

“Each project leverages our global insight to provide local value, with our head office team offering industry-leading environmental insights across each of our operating countries,” Anderson said. “Our proven experience managing the full suite of environmental services on mine sites ensures we continually deliver exceptional outcomes for our clients.”

Ausenco reinforces Australia coal sector focus with QCC Resources buy

Coal technology, Comminution of minerals, Mineral processing, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, , , , ,

Ausenco has announced the acquisition of QCC Resources, a leading coal process and materials handling service provider headquartered in the Hunter Valley, of New South Wales, Australia.

QCC is a globally recognised provider of coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP) design and construction services in Australia and key overseas markets, most notably Africa, Canada, Indonesia and Russia, Ausenco says. It has assisted clients over the full project lifecycle from initial concept, prefeasibility and feasibility studies, to innovative CHPP plant design and EPC/EPCM delivery, for over 33 years.

The acquisition supports Ausenco’s position as a premier service provider to the Australia coal industry and will significantly increase the company’s capacity to deliver value-add, future-focused solutions for clients in the industry, the company added.

Ausenco CEO, Zimi Meka, says: “At Ausenco, innovation is in our DNA and we are driven to always seek better solutions. Joining forces with QCC’s deeply experienced team will allow us to drive responsible, sustainable change in the coal industry. I look forward to working with our coal clients to deliver cost-effective solutions that reflect our commitment to having a positive impact on the communities and environments in which they operate.”

Thiess extends stay at Glencore’s Mount Owen coal mine

Coal technology, Mine operation news, Mining services, , , , , , , , ,

CIMIC Group’s Thiess has been awarded a contract extension by Glencore to provide mining services at the Mount Owen coal operation in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia.

The 18-month contract extension, to commence in July 2021, will generate revenue of A$340 million ($240 million) to Thiess.

Thiess will continue to provide mine planning, design and execution, drill and blast, overburden removal and coal mining services at the mine, it said.

The global mining services provider has operated at Mount Owen since 1994, applying, it says, industry best practice mining operations, with uncompromising environmental and safety standards. It is Thiess’ largest coal mining operation in New South Wales, processing up to 15 Mt/y of run of mine, of which 7.8 Mt/y is mined by Thiess from the Mount Owen North Pit.

Thiess Managing Director, Douglas Thompson, said: “For more than 25 years we have delivered industry-leading, specialised mining techniques at Mount Owen, leading to higher resource recovery, increased plant efficiency and reliable material movement for our client.

“Our team looks forward to continuing our long association with Glencore and the Hunter Valley community.”

Thiess says it has a strong presence in the Hunter Valley where it provides mining services at three mines. It works to deliver social benefits through local employment and training, local procurement, community engagement and Indigenous affairs.

Bis to keep moving coal at AGL power stations in Australia

Coal technology, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , ,

Resources logistics provider Bis has been awarded an extension to its long-term contract with AGL Macquarie (AGL), which will see it continue to provide equipment hire and site services at the company’s two power generation facilities in the upper Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia.

Bis has provided mobile plant and site services, including the supply of key primary dozers for coal stockpile management, to AGL’s Bayswater and Liddell power stations for the past 21 years.

Bis Chief Operating Officer, Michael Porter, said: “We are delighted that our long standing relationship with AGL has again been extended, allowing us to continue to deliver value through our committed team at this location. Underpinning the delivery of the contract is our focus on safe operations, with a Zero Harm commitment that has resulted in an excellent safety record of zero lost time injuries over more than 20 years of working at this site.”

Bis General Manager – Mining Services North East, Drew Sargeant, said Bis has an excellent working relationship with AGL, and a reputation for driving operational efficiencies at this location.

“As the energy sector evolves, Bis will continue working with our customer to identify further opportunities for improvement in delivering safety and productivity efficiencies,” Sargeant said.