Engineering group Sedgman was awarded the design, construct and commissioning work for the new plant in February 2006 and completed the $35 million contract in February 2007, as scheduled.

Sedgman managing director Peter Hay said the new plant is in full operation and complements an existing 700 tonnes per hour CHPP which was designed and constructed by Sedgman in 2002.

The new CHPP comprises a 500tph ROM receival and sizing station and 350tph coal processing facility with dedicated tailings and product handling systems and a shared coarse reject handling system.

New Hope's current coal operations in Queensland comprise three opencut mines (Jeebropilly, New Oakleigh and New Acland), supplying a wide range of domestic and export customers.