This is the fifth summit to be held at the Rydges Capricorn International Resort.
A one-day pre-conference workshop will be held on March 20 on longwall optimisation. Entitled “Optimising Longwall Operations: Achieving Nameplate Capacity in Longwall and Development Operations”, the workshop will include brief presentations from Graeme Baird, McAlpine-B; Brian Nicholls of Brian Nicholls Mining; Colin Merriman, Joy product manager longwalls, roof supports & AFCs; Carl Reams PAQS; and Peter Ferreria, E-Cue.
The conference sessions start on March 21. The program includes:
DAY ONE – Thursday March 21
The global coal industry – a new era, Mark Earley, Barlow Jonker.
Australian longwalls – successes and future challenges for the industry, Brian Nicholls.
Illawarra longwalls – consolidating the operations to maximise longwall production, Bruce Allan, vice president operations, BHP Billiton Illawarra
Consol Energy’s strategy in Australian coal, Randy De Bolt, general manager Asia/Pacific, Consol Energy.
Longwall mining at Goonyella, Dr Frank Leschhorn, general manager, RAG Australia Coal.
Longwall in the US: Support system and gateroad, Tom Barczak, NIOSH, USA.
Rapid longwall moves in high production longwall mine, represenative from Shenhua Coal group.
Longwall system design for optimal profitability and minimal risk, Chris Wilkinson, managing director, John T. Boyd company, Australia.
Transport of longwall equipment, Greg Venticinque, general manager, DBT Diesel.
Economics of longwall conveyor consumables, Peter Howard, managing director, Advanced Chain Technology.
DAY TWO - Friday March 22
Comparison of US vs Australian mines on optimisation, Graeme Baird, managing director, McAlpine-B.
Moranbah North, Steve Rowland, general manager.
Kestrel mine, Dan Teal, general manager.
Booster fan installation in a gassy Australian longwall mine, Dave Benson, project manager, West Cliff mine, BHP Billiton.
Longwall mining at Metropolitan: current production and future planning, Alan Phillips, managing director and Steve Relf, longwall co-ordinator.
Managing productivity improvement and continuity process focus (a South African case study), Chris Wilkinson, managing director, John T. Boyd company, Australia.
Efficient longwall mining in coal seams of 1.6m and lower – case studies from USA, Mexico, China and Germany, Harry Martin, vice president marketing, DBT America.
The changing role for contractors in the Australian longwalling industry – owning, operating and contracting – the Allied group experience, Steve Baldwin, managing director, Allied Coal.
Exploring opportunities for thin seam mining in Australia, Earl Cook, general manager, Thin Seam Mining.
