The company has so far been upbeat about feedback coming from the first-of-its-kind training facility which was transformed from the closed Baal Bone coal mine near Lithgow in New South Wales.

One of the facility’s first 12 graduates, Rob Pattison, who had no previous mining experience before the 12-week course has since gone on to operate a shuttle car to cut his first coal at the company’s Ulan West mine.

Xstrata operations manager for Ulan West David Ribaux said the hands-on experience was evident.

“Rob operated the shuttle car in a very professional manner,” he said.

Julie Tiggermann, one of the first three women operators to undergo training at Baal Bone said it was her first underground mining experience.

“It’s a whole new world for me,” Tiggerman said. “I expected to and have done the same as the guys, using the same equipment, doing the same work.

“The trainers are great and I’ve gained experience on juggernauts, Eimcos and shuttle cars.

“The courses are also comprehensive and have included mines rescue and Certificate II in Black Coal Competency.”

Xstrata Coal NSW chief operating officer Ian Cribb told ILN the company intended to begin filling positions beyond Ulan West, possibly including non-Xstrata coal miners as well.

“While we are currently only training employees for Ulan West, next week we start training the first intake of trainees for the Bulga underground,” Cribb said.

“Down the track there’s the possibility of opening it to other business partners.”

The facility currently takes on about 70 trainees per 12-week program.

Cribb said that as the company’s plan called for four programs per year, the facility could produce some 280 graduates annually.