Bow has more than 28 years experience in the mining industry and has held various managerial positions covering technical and operational management with BHP Billiton and its coal operations in the Illawarra region.

His most recent role was head of operations at Gujarat NRE’s Wongawilli Colliery in the Illawarra.

Bow holds a first class mine manager’s ticket and is a qualified competent person in reserves analysis.

Dealing with the hard type of coal at Narrabri and problems with its automation software are frustrating the commissioning of its longwall.

Also sufficient longwall retreating was yet to occur to achieve initial roof caving, so no experience of caving characteristics was available to date, the company said.

Underground installation of the longwall began in early April 2012 and was completed on June 6 with the first longwall coal cut on June 12. But the company was now seeking to address automation software issues with the longwall manufacturer Caterpillar/Bucyrus, Whitehaven said.

The commissioning and ramp-up of the longwall was expected to take approximately 12 weeks, during which time start-up issues would be addressed, any rectification and modification works done and operating practices developed, Whitehaven said.

Whitehaven’s current general manager – Narrabri Greig Duncan indicated earlier this year that he planned to resign the role for personal reasons, once a suitable candidate was identified.

“I would like to thank Greig for his significant contribution in bringing this major new longwall development into operation,” Whitehaven managing director Tony Haggarty said.

“Greig has overseen the development of the mine since its commencement, to a stage where we now employ more than 320 employees and contractors on site.

“We welcome Steve to the Whitehaven team. He brings excellent qualifications as well as the experience required to oversee the ongoing commissioning of the Narrabri longwall and its move to full production.”