The proposed $A97 million Wambo mine, near Singleton in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley, holds reserves of 26 million tonnes, giving the longwall a mine life of nine years.
Excel said the mine would produce low-ash, high yielding coal at 3 million tonnes per annum from the Wambo seam.
The longwall face will be 250m wide with 2.2m average cutting height and more than 3km of panels. The company said the mine should average one longwall change per year.
Excel also plans to use the new longwall coal to compliment coal extracted from its other mines.
The longwall will enable the opencut to mine lower grade material (increase reserve and lower ratio) and provides blending options for Wambo opencut, Wilpinjong and Chain Valley mines.
