The Ensham 8750-63 is now called the 8750H (or “heavy”) – the fourth onsite – and is part of a longer term plan that includes a feasibility study into a new underground operation and planned future increase in production to 20 million tonnes per annum for 20 years.

The world’s second-largest operating dragline – weighing 6600 tonnes with a 110 cubic metre bucket – has been engineered by Bucyrus International in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Supply and manufacture was undertaken in Australia, the US, Canada, Mexico, Italy, Germany and Luxembourg with 85% of the fabricated and cast steel components sourced in Australia. Some 55% of the total contract value is of Australian origin.

The erection of the dragline onsite was undertaken by Mackay-based firm G&S Engineering, with up to 100 personnel working on the erection site located near the mining lease.

The Bucyrus 8750 dragline will move 20 million bulk cubic metres of overburden in 2007 and 28Mbcm a year after that.

Ensham general manager of projects Dr Chris Greig said the company’s so-called “Dragline 4” was a state-of-the-art machine and selected for its reliability, high production rate and low operating costs.

Although engineered by US-based Bucyrus International (which acquired dragline manufacturer Marion, on which this unit is based), Greig said the behemoth featured an unprecedented level of local content.

“Ensham sought to maximise Australian content during the contract formation process, with 85% of the key steel components to be supplied by Australian steel producers, casting foundries and specialist fabricators,” he said.

“Construction work onsite was subcontracted to G&S Engineering from Mackay, which is handling most of the steel fabrication and assembly work, and Busby Contractors [Rockhampton] who prepared the large erection pad on which the dragline is being built prior to being ‘walked’ to the mine in early 2007.”

The steel plate for the revolving frame and tub was manufactured by BlueScope Steel in Wollongong.

Ensham chief executive John Pegler said the investment was a significant step in ensuring the future sustainability of the Ensham mine. “This machine will slash the cost of overburden removal from truck and shovel operations and help secure the competitiveness of the opencut operations over the next 20 years,” he said.

Pegler added that the $100 million investment in the new dragline was a significant vote of confidence in the Queensland coal industry by Ensham’s joint venture partners, Idemitsu, J Power and LG.

Ensham Resources has lodged mining lease applications for its Ensham Central project, 40km east of Emerald and subject to the grant of the mining leases and EPA approval, the company is hoping that development of the new pit will commence this year. –Lou Caruana

Published in January’s Australia’s Mining Monthly