Category: Features

THE South Flank iron ore project currently under construction for BHP in the Pilbara region of WA will be one of the most technologically advanced mines in the world. Superlatives such as the biggest, longest, latest and greatest are being applied to many aspects of the project which starts production in 2021. The new mine is incorporating many of the latest developments in mining technology ranging from autonomous mining equipment, digital-connectivity and modular-designed structures. According to BHP’s Project Director for South Flank, Simon Thomas,  South Flank is a US$3.6b project that will fully replace production from the 80mtpa (100 per cent basis) Yandi mine, which is expected to end its economic life in the mid-2020s. “The first ore from South...

Saraji Mine: Eastward Ho SARAJI coking coal mine in Queensland’s coal-rich Bowen Basin coalfield is ready for the next stage in its development with its Saraji East expansion project. Purchased by the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance joint venture, a 50:50 joint undertaking between Japanese trading house Mitsubishi and BHP, from Australian coal company New Hope Corporation in July 2008 for the price of $2.45b, the Saraji (East) coal project marked a new watershed price for coal mining assets in Australia. New Hope went on to use the money received for its Saraji coal project to fund some coal asset acquisitions including stakes in former Rio Tinto’s Hunter Valley coal mine in NSW. The Saraji project is an undeveloped metallurgical coal resources...

Sojitz Coal: Full speed ahead SOJITZ Coal Mining is an Australian subsidiary of Japanese company Sojitz and was established in 2002 as the holding company for its Queensland coal operations. SCM’s span of operations has grown to three Queensland coal mines – Gregory, Minerva and Meteor Downs -- and it has been quietly upgrading these. Sojitz managing director and chief executive Cameron Vorias said the company’s plans to develop its Australian coal mines were progressing well despite some hiccups in thermal coal prices. “Thermal coal prices have been stable but not brilliant,” Mr Vorias said. He said Australian thermal coal prices experienced a difficult market in 2019, when benchmark Australian thermal coal prices endured a steady decline over 2019, falling...

Carrapateena: Copping it sweet PRODUCTION at one of Australia's biggest copper mines is set for a solid rise. The OZ Minerals-owned Carrapateena already has the potential to produce 65,000t of copper and 67,000oz of gold a year over its expected 20-year lifetime. The iron-oxide–copper–gold (IOCG) underground mine, located about 160km north of Port Augusta in South Australia, produced its first concentrate at the end of December 2019, targeting 4.25Mtpa throughput rates by end 2020 and 4.7-5Mpta from 2023. OZ Minerals chief executive Andrew Cole said the company remained confident in the long-term demand for copper from traditional sources as well as from the rapidly expanding focus on carbon reduction. “The company is planning to continue its investment in growing Carrapateena,”...

Coppabella Mine: Mackay steel BUSINESSES around the Mackay region have long thrived on work provided by US company Peabody’s Coppabella, and the other mines in the vicinity. Its strong culture of community engagement and corporate responsibility provides ongoing support to community services, local emergency services, education, safety and environmental management. Coppabella celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2018. Peabody Australia president George Schuller said that over its two decades in operation, Coppabella had provided benefits for the Moranbah and Nebo townships and the Mackay region as a whole. The comments were echoed by Queensland Regional Council director Ian MacFarlane. “Coppabella has exported coal to Japan, Korea and Taiwan, paying royalties to the State Government which are used to build the schools...

Adani: On the right track TIME continues to tick down to Adani Australia’s deadline of late 2021 for first coal exports from its giant Carmichael coal mine located in central Queensland’s unmined Galilee Basin coalfield. Adani finally received approval for its Carmichael mine and rail project from the Queensland government last year, more than a decade after the Indian-domiciled company had first submitted its project application to Queensland planning authorities in the late 2000s. An Australia-based spokesperson for Adani Mining said in an emailed statement to AMR that the project was proceeding to schedule. “We look forward to the completion of the mine and rail construction in 2021, and for our first coal to also be exported later that year,”...

Global Iron Ore and Steel Forecast Conference THE new century marks the 23rd year of the annual Global Iron Ore and Steel Forecast Conference, to be held in March 18-19 at the Westin in Perth, WA. This year’s event will focus on industry growth and developments, optimising value, managing and improving iron ore quality, developments in innovation and automation, and process improvements. It will also look at the role of renewable energy in reducing carbon footprints of businesses while also lowering energy costs and improving their bottom line. The event looks set to continue its role as the premier event for the global iron ore and steel industry. Join hundreds of iron ore executives, project directors, analysts, engineering firms, industry...

South32: In high demand SOUTH32 is walking the fine line between increased production at Illawarra Metallurgical Coal and reassuring climate conscious shareholders it is closely monitoring trends in consumer and market behaviour around coal. Releasing a report titled Our Approach to Climate Change 2019, the company has completed decarbonisation concept studies at Illawarra Metallurgical Coal, with the aim of identifying potential decarbonisation initiatives, which can be progressed into prefeasibility planning during FY20. However, metallurgical coal demand is set to skyrocket from 275mt (in 2017) to 372mt by 2030 – according to the NSW Minerals Council – and Illawarra is expected to increase production to around 7mt by the end of financial year 2020 and 8mt by FY21. In the September...

Koodaideri Project: Breaking ground THE $3.5b Koodaideri iron ore mine in WA is progressing to plan with engineering, procurement and construction activities on schedule for first production in late 2021. Koodaideri will deliver a new production hub for Rio Tinto’s world-class iron ore business in the Pilbara, incorporating a processing plant and infrastructure including a 166km rail line connecting the mine to the existing network. This includes construction of a new bridge in the Pilbara to carry the Great Northern Highway traffic over the proposed Rio Tinto Iron Ore Koodaideri Rail Line. The bridge project, funded by Rio Tinto and managed by Main Roads, is expected to create a minimum of 40 local jobs with a $23m contract awarded to...

Adani Coal: On the right track TIME continues to tick down to Adani Australia’s deadline of late 2021 for first coal exports from its giant Carmichael coal mine located in central Queensland’s unmined Galilee Basin coalfield. Adani finally received approval for its Carmichael mine and rail project from the Queensland government last year, more than a decade after the Indian-domiciled company had first submitted its project application to Queensland planning authorities in the late 2000s. An Australia-based spokesperson for Adani Mining said in an emailed statement to AMR that the project was proceeding to schedule. “We look forward to the completion of the mine and rail construction in 2021, and for our first coal to also be exported later that...

IT’S been a hive of activity in the Hunter Valley over the past few months. The region’s coalfields contain largely thermal and soft coking coal. Mines near the eastern edge of the basin are spread along the Hunter Valley from Newcastle in the south to Muswellbrook in the north, most of which are open-cut. Both soft coking and thermal coal products are produced from mines such as Hunter Valley Operations and Bulga. With the NSW Independent Planning Commission giving United Wambo the green light on August 29, the region will now be bolstered by another massive open-cut pit. Meanwhile, Mount Arthur has welcomed a new chief executive in Adam Lacey, and the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group (NCIG) is expecting a...