The Broadmeadow punch longwall mine is located at the BMA open-cut Goonyella mine site in Queensland. The final feasibility was completed in May 2003 and the project got the greenlight in July last year.

DBT said that with a range of 2.4m – 5.2m and two 400mm diameter leg cylinders, the 1,152t rated shields incorporate the latest innovations for thick seam single pass longwall roof supports, including articulating flipper, base pushing cylinders, 16 function electrohydraulic controls and optimised canopy ratio.

The PM4 control system will provide shield control, while meeting the specification outlined by the ACARP Landmark Automation Project. BMA specified that the roof support control system be capable of interfacing to other vendor’s equipment. DBT said in the development of its control technology it had ensured its control systems were developed to industry standard protocols which allowed easy interface with other gear, on standard internet platforms.

DBT said it was confident that this purpose designed shield would contribute to the success of longwall mining of the difficult Goonyella Middle Seam. This coal seam has troubled other OEM’s and operators for the past ten years.

BMA’s Broadmeadow operation along with XStrata’s Newlands North operation will be the first thick seam mines to employ the punch longwall method, with gate roads driven directly into the highwall of a previous open cut mine.

“DBT is pleased to be the primary equipment provider to both of these operations and are optimistic that their success will lead to the next underground coal mining boom as the hundreds of exposed highwall kilometres in the Bowen Basin are exploited using punch longwall mining methods,” DBT said.

Contracting company Henry Walker Eltin (HWE) will be carrying out a $43 million development driveage contract, starting in April 2004. The job entails three months of pit infrastructure installation by wholly owned subsidiary Simon Engineering Australia (SEA) and the driveage of approximately 25 kilometres of gate roads and longwall installation headings, over a 20 month timeframe. The contractor will drive two headings with cut-throughs on 80m centres and roadway dimensions measuring 5.2m x 3.6m.