It was the mine’s second highest production quarter to date despite scheduled suspension in mid-August to prepare the slanted roadway for the longwall. Production since recommenced earlier this month.

Mine operator Thiess achieved a record development advance of 2159m following expansion of the continuous miner fleet to four units. Metres per week has risen from 119m in July to an encouraging 219m in September, the company said.

Thiess has re-established production at the annualised rate of 1.5 million tonnes per annum and tuned materials-handling infrastructure to allow reliable expansion to 2.4Mtpa in 2003-04. Two scheduled longwall moves in 2001-2002 means the mine expects to produce around 1.5Mtpa, which is expected to increase to 2.4Mtpa in 2003-04.

Washed coal production for the quarter was on-budget at 205,000t reflecting a washery yield of 93%. Gympie said the high quality is due to in-situ coal characteristics and also the +5m thickness of the seam-section in the Bellbird South lease zone which allows more selective mining of the best seam section.

In addition to managing the mine, Thiess won a tender during the quarter to operate the washery, preparation and despatch plant.