The mine is operated and owned by Namoi Hunter, a subsidiary of American Metals and Coal International (AMCI).
Underground mining began at the project, 12km north-west of Singleton, in May 1999. In the 1999-2000 financial year the mine produced 160,000 tonnes of coal, and output is planned to increase to around 3Mtpa with the staged introduction of a longwall.
At present, operations at the mine are focusing on development of the first longwall block. Tenders are currently out for roof supports and a 3000tph drift conveyor.
According to the AMCI website, the company’s management has wide experience in longwall mining having pioneered the introduction of mechanised longwall mining into Australia in the early 1960’s.
“Australian and American technology and management is being utilized to enhance mining productivity particularly in the development phase of mining,” according to the website.
The mine is considering implementing either place changing or super sections for longwall development. Drilling and seismic surveys have to date shown only two faults with more than 5m throw within the minable reserve area. Large areas of coal have been identified that are unlikely to be affected by structures of more than seam height displacement.
The Glennie's Creek coal lease has measured and indicated resources of 489Mt defined in seven seams in the Foybrook Formation of the Wittingham Coal Measures. The Middle Liddell seam alone has sufficient reserves to sustain production in excess of 14 years. Longwall mining will target the Middle Liddell and Hebden seams while a continuous miner operation is planned in the Barrett Seam. In situ minable reserves in these three seams are conservatively estimated at 140Mt, according to AMCI.
Currently, coal is trucked 3km to the Camberwell Preparation Plant where it is washed on a continuous roster seven days per week.
AMCI holds interests in other coal mining projects in Australia, including the Alliance punch longwall, and 35% of the Coppabella open-cut PCI mine, both in Queensland.
