Production at the MIM Oaky Creek mine was disrupted by a series of longwall roof collapses. The initial fall occurred between chocks 90 and 107, causing the mine to lose a week’s worth of production. Longwall mining has since resumed at a reduced rate. Mine management are assessing the roof conditions to decide whether to keep going or to relocate the longwall face to the next cut-through.
The North Goonyella longwall mine (owned by RAG and operated by Thiess) is also reportedly struggling with bad roof conditions at present. BHP Billiton’s Crinum mine is similarly challenged. Both mines are believed to have resumed longwall mining at slowed rates of production.
