Byerwen Coal: New kid on the block
AUSTRALIA’S newest coking coal mine, the $1.76b Byerwen coalmine, officially opened on September 17. Currently operating at 3mtpa, it will ramp up to its nameplate capacity of 10mtpa coking coal after a significant site expansion. The open cut mine in the Northern Bowen Basin, about 20km west of Glenden, has employed about 1000 people during construction and the mine will have a permanent workforce of more than 500 people during operations. The mine comprises four mining areas with a total of 18 open-cut pits, two coal handling and preparation plants, two train loading facilities, including rail loop and spur lines, connected to the existing line to Abbot Point, and an augmented power supply. It is a JV between QCoal and…