Tag Archives: Idemitsu Australia

Thiess Rehabilitation to deliver rehabilitation services at Muswellbrook coal mine

Coal technology, Environmental, Water management, , , , , , ,

Thiess Rehabilitation says it has secured a two-year contract with Idemitsu Australia’s Muswellbrook Coal Company (MCC) to deliver rehabilitation services at the Muswellbrook coal mine, in the upper Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia.

Thiess Rehabilitation will conduct detailed design and construction of the post-mining landform, creating a combination of native ecosystem and pasture land uses that generate approximately 180 ha of rehabilitated land across MCC’s open-cut mine, it said.

This is the second contract with Idemitsu Australia for Thiess Rehabilitation, having been awarded the rehabilitation services contract for Idemitsu Australia’s Ensham mine in Queensland in July 2022.

Thiess Rehabilitation Group Manager, James Anderson, said: “The Muswellbrook contract demonstrates the growing strength of our relationship with Idemitsu Australia, and builds on the hard work and solid performance of our team at Ensham.

“Muswellbrook coal mine also holds special significance for Thiess. The mine’s open-cut operations began in 1944 and that contract was awarded to our founders, the Thiess Brothers, marking both the start of Thiess’ mining business, as well as the start of Thiess’ presence in the Hunter region.

“Given our legacy at Muswellbrook coal mine, Thiess Rehabilitation is excited to be given the responsibility to deliver value to this site and to the community through the site’s post-mining transition.”

Idemitsu’s CEO, Steve Kovac, said: “Muswellbrook Coal has been owned by Idemitsu since 1989 and has a very proud history. Now that mining and processing operations have been completed at the site, Idemitsu is progressing plans to develop the Muswellbrook Clean Industries Precinct at the site.

“A critical part of these future plans is the rehabilitation of the mining operational areas, and we are pleased to have a specialist with proven experience to help deliver our rehabilitation goals. We look forward to working with Thiess Rehabilitation once again.”

Thiess Group Executive Chair and CEO, Michael Wright, said: “Thiess has delivered award winning rehabilitation programs globally for more than 30 years. We’re proud that Thiess Rehabilitation is continuing this tradition of excellence as a trusted partner in sustainable mining operations.”

Thiess spinoff wins first mine rehabilitation contract from Ensham Resources

Environmental, Mining services, Sustainable mining, Water management, , , , ,

Following its launch in March of this year, Thiess Rehabilitation has been awarded its first contract – a 3.5-year partnership with Idemitsu Australia’s Ensham Resources to deliver mine rehabilitation solutions that create areas for native bushland corridors and cattle grazing across more than 700 ha of land.

Working with the client at the Ensham Mine, in Queensland, Australia, the scope of works includes the detailed design and construction of the final rehabilitated landforms, topsoiling and seed bed preparation, and sowing of both pasture and native tree species.

The team will apply industry-leading landform design methodologies, as well as the implementation of technology for surveying and seeding, to deliver the project, it says.

Thiess Rehabilitation’s Group Manager, James Anderson, said: “We’re really excited to work with Idemitsu’s Ensham Resources, who have already achieved more than 660 ha of progressive rehabilitation at the mine. We share an understanding that mining is about value, and that value is fully realised when we return the land to a sustainable and usable state.

“We’re looking forward to bringing our whole-of-mine-life insight to design, develop and deliver solutions to meet the needs of our clients and leave a positive legacy.”

Ensham Resources General Manager, Andy Mifflin, said: “We’re very pleased with our achievements to date, including attaining the Queensland’s Department of Environment and Science’s certification of the largest area of open-cut coal mining rehabilitation ever in Queensland, with a total of 663 ha of progressive rehabilitation utilised for long term cattle grazing.

“Ensham looks forward to working with Thiess Rehabilitation to achieve the successful completion of the next phase of our progressive rehabilitation.”

Idemitsu Australia commenced operations in 1993 using dragline strip mining methods and, during the life of the mine, the company has been progressively rehabilitating previously mined out areas.