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Reporting on the December 2002 quarter the company reported that coal output from the Oaky Creek operations in Queensland’s Bowen Basin was 25% higher than for the previous December quarter.
MIM’s 75% share of production from the Oaky No 1 longwall totaled 305,605t while Oaky North produced 1.170Mt for the quarter.
The ramp up of production from the new Oaky No 1 longwall has been delayed following frictional ignition events. In recent months this has improved following installation of a new RAC shearer drum. Restrained until recently to a cutting speed of 5 metres per minute the new drum recently allowed the shearer cutting speed to be increased to 7.5m/min.
The mine’s limited production rates will lower product coal output during the March quarter. MIM said its flexible coal sources would still allow production for the 2003 financial year to exceed the 9Mt achieved in 2002
The Oaky North longwall equipment is due to be relocated from the northern panels to the southern panels.
At Newlands-Collinsville-Abbot Point the Newlands longwall produced 821,201t (MIM’s 75% share) for the quarter. MIM expects strong production to continue.
