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GUJARAT
NRE Coking Coal’s strategic plan for continuous operations
at its New South Wales NRE No 1 Colliery and its staged growth
of production is progressing well, with the longwall expected
to be operating by December 2011.
In its annual report, the company said two applications were
being prepared concurrently as required by the NSW Environment
Planning and Assessment Act.
The first is for the continuation of operations of up to 1
million tonnes per annum and the second is for the expansion
of operations up to 3Mtpa.
“Both
submissions will also assess the implementation of major infrastructure
to accommodate the company’s expansion proposals,”
the company said.
“These
proposals are expected to be submitted and approval gained
during the coming period.
“The
long-term focus is to utilise the modern engineering standards
and best practice, to provide the most efficient ways of performing
mining operations that maximises the proposed production levels,
while also minimising potential adverse environmental impacts.”
Joy
won the $A90 million contract to supply longwall equipment
for the NRE No1 colliery in April.
Under
the same contract, Gujarat said Joy will also supply a new
183m longwall coal clearance system in late 2013 to upgrade
the equipment at Gujarat’s nearby Wongawilli mine.
The longwall is scheduled for commissioning by late 2011 and
will initially cut coal from a 145m face before it widens
up to 390m in the next five years.
The longer-term future of Gujarat’s NRE Wongawilli mine
– which is also in the Illawarra region – has
been allowed for by the joining of the Avondale and Wongawilli
lease areas.''
This ultimately provides access to resources located west
and south of the current mining areas.
An application is being prepared for the continuation of operations
up to 2Mtpa. The proposal is expected to be submitted and
approval gained during the next financial year.
To increase production levels up to 3Mtpa, additional approval
from the NSW Environment Planning and Assessment Act will
also be required.
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