This article is 16 years old. Images might not display.
The new producer was setback by a large rockfall in the mine’s ventilation shaft in February which stalled operations.
To remedy the situation, Australian contractor AVKO Mining will start work in mid-April on a new linking shaft which bypasses the lower section of the ventilation shaft filled by the large rockfall debris and concrete.
The shaft will be constructed using the Alimak drill-and-blast method with work starting in mid-April and will work its way upwards from a section of the tunnel floor that has been excavated 6m in height.
Pike said more than 45 grouted cable bolts of 8m in length have been installed in the roof to support the area of the new rise and to create the nest for Alimak equipment to park when explosives are used.
The construction of the new linking shaft will be carried out by a nine-man team with the aid of a working platform.
Outside of this work, Pike has started drilling a “slimline” ventilation hole from the surface to the pit bottom.
Once complete Pike said the hole will be reamed to a 60cm diameter and fully cased with steel pipe to provide enough fresh air to allow a continuous miner to start-up in April.
After the linking shaft has reconnected the main ventilation shaft and the slimline hole is complete, Pike will have its three coal-cutting machines and in-seam drilling unit back in operation.
Shares in Pike were up 2.5c to 64.5c on the Australian Securities Exchange this morning.
