However, heavy rain and COVID-19 impacts caused it to be completed 18 days later than expected.

The shutdown was originally planned to last for 80 days.

The job involved a significant amount of mechanical, electrical and structural repairs and upgrades to the machine.

The tub was returned with nil cracks remaining, the drag and hoist drums have had major works completed, the A-frame deck lugs have been upgraded, the electrical digital drive is 100% complete and fully functional and the on board camera system has been installed and commissioned.

The boom was also lowered with all support ropes and boom point sheaves replaced. 

"The dragline accounts for around 20% of total waste material movement at Bengalla and the shutdown will have a minor impact on coal flow in the first half of the 2021 financial year," the company said.

"Prime overburden production remains on plan for the year to date due to strong operating performance from the excavator-truck fleet and bulldozers being used in a dozer push application to replace some of the lost dragline capacity."