During the March quarter Tahmoor produced 494,000t ROM with production in line with expectations. Mining is currently extracting panel 20 on a seven day basis and is expected to be fully extracted by the end of April. The longwall will resume mining in August while activities for the next period focus on development and upgrades.
Between now and July the coal preparation plant will be shut down for a major upgrade, including the installation of larger cyclones and increasing the capacity of the froth flotation circuit. The plant will be re-commissioned in July using development coal.
Coal recovery during the quarter was reduced from highs in January of 86% to 81.6% as a result of developing 3.5 metre headings and excavating driveheads for new conveyor systems. Clean coal recoveries are expected to improve further on commissioning of the upgraded coal preparation plant in July.
Development of the new area of the mine – Tahmoor North – began during the quarter with one development unit engaged in driving the initial entry points for longwall panel 22, the first Tahmoor North panel. A total of 1,032 metres was developed and in both panel 21 headings, rates were limited by a known calcite zone.
Contractor Roche Mining began a $30 million, 18 month contract for more than 18,500 metres of underground roadway development. It is hoped the contract will boost mine development so that mining in Tahmoor North starts on time in March next year.
At the end of the quarter Roche was still finalising manpower and equipment issues and is expected to be operating two full development units on a seven day basis from mid April.
Austral has signed the major equipment components for the Tahmoor North development. DBT will supply the new longwall system and final specification and design work for the roof supports is reportedly well advanced. Manufacture of the first prototype to be used in destructive testing is expected soon.
Joy Mining will supply a new longwall shearer and Macquarie Manufacturing will supply a longwall monorail system. Walter Construction Group and Continental Conveyor and Equipment will supply a new 900 panel conveyor system.
