In operation since October 1997, the Queensland-located mine was operated by contractor Thiess on behalf of 50-50 joint venture partner Namoi Mining, with coal production going to the Oaky Creek complex of MIM.
Namoi are currently getting the Glennie’s Creek longwall project in NSW up and running.
Potential existed at Alliance for a further three blocks but would have been expensive to develop.
As part of the mine closure, Thiess have ownership of the longwall, including 146 ex-Galatia, vintage-1988 shields and the AFC. Capable of operating between 1.5 – 2.5m, the supports would be suitable for most Australian conditions.
Thiess plans to store the longwall at its Swanbank, Ipswich facility, giving the contractor the capability to offer a longwall mine both operating expertise, but also a set of longwall gear for the first time. Thiess is also operating the nearby North Goonyella longwall mine and the Southland longwall mine in NSW.
At the time of the mine closure, some 40 people were employed at the Alliance mine, the majority of whom have been absorbed into other Thiess jobs at other mines. The company does not want to lose access to a well trained underground workforce.
