The turnkey longwall package includes DBT shearer, shields, face conveyor, crusher, stageloader and bootend.

Glennies Creek is a joint venture between US miner Consol and well-known coal trader AMCI. The latter currently has on order two FBL-10 diesel load haul dump vehicles.

“The most pleasing aspect of the Glennies Creek longwall success was the tremendous ‘global’ effort which resulted in this order,” a company spokesman said. “The shearer for example, will be built from stock sourced throughout DBT Global. With Consol (US) being a joint venture partner, DBT (US) had a major role to play in liaising with the key US based customer personnel.”

The initial order is for a 157m-wide longwall face, with mining of the first panel to commence in August 2002. The face is expected to increase in width to 250m (with an additional order) during 2004.

In January, personnel from Glennies Creek and DBT Australia visited DBT Lünen to undertake prototype inspection approval of the shields.