Resource Pacific managing director Paul Jury said the estimated reserves at the mine have been increased to 111.5 million tonnes, derived mainly from the Barrett Seam at Newpac.

“At our planned production rate of 4Mtpa, the Barrett Seam will extend the mine’s life by 10 years to around 28 years.”

Jury said the next step in developing the large resource at Newpac will be to evaluate the economic potential of longwall mining the Arteries Seam in the southern area and bord and pillar production in the Liddell and Barrett seams in the northwest area of the mine.

He said both of these areas should result in further increases to the company’s high quality reserves.

Meanwhile, Jury said the Newpac longwall commissioning is continuing to progress well, with promising results.

“Following a series of minor adjustments and familiarisation of operators with the equipment, the number of shears achieved on a complete production shift indicates that forecast production rates are achievable.”

Wet commissioning of the expanded coal handling and preparation plant has also begun, on track to be completed in February.