Paringa Resources provides an update on its Poplar Grove operations
Published by Claire Cuddihy,
Assistant Editor
World Coal,
Paringa Resources Ltd (Paringa) advises that in the initial ramp-up phase, underground mucking and transportation of Run of Mine (RoM) material to the surface has to-date been undertaken using underground loaders, rather than a permanent slope conveyor. RoM volumes being brought to the surface are lower than expected due to an MSHA directive last week limiting operations to one loader.
Consequently, the company has decided to install the slope conveyor sooner than originally planned. The slope conveyor has the capacity (nameplate) to transport up to 2000 tph of RoM material from the slope bottom and will enable the company to further improve the planned ramp up of production from the mine. First coal sales are now expected to be in the week of 22 April instead of this week.
Although the first shipment of coal will be delayed, the establishment of the permanent ventilation system and operations using the mine slope conveyor will allow the company to commence a typical underground room and pillar mining sequence, significantly increasing mining advance rates and eliminating the haulage bottleneck currently limiting the mine's production ramp-up.
Connection to the intake ventilation shaft will be made this week allowing the ventilation update necessary to commission the 400 hp main mine fan. The connection to the intake shaft and commissioning the mine fan allows the establishment of the permanent ventilation system.
Underground operations
Underground mining and bottom development have now transitioned to Paringa, with the slope development contractor demobilising from the site.
Establishment of the permanent ventilation system and operations using the mine slope conveyor allows the company to commence a typical underground room and pillar mining sequence as well as enabling significantly increased production rates. The slope conveyor has the capacity (nameplate) to transport up to 2000 tph of coal from the slope bottom.
Surface operations
Installation and commissioning of the slope conveyor enables the underground and surface operations to be integrated. RoM material will travel up the slope conveyor to the slope portal. RoM material then travels on the overland conveyor which then deposits it into the raw coal stockpile for processing at the CHPP.
Coal sales
The change in sequencing of the installation of the mine slope conveyor and establishment of the permanent ventilation system has resulted in a four week delay in timing to first coal sales, but will significantly increase mining rates through eliminating the haulage bottleneck currently limiting the mine's production ramp-up. As a result, the net impact of the change in sequence is an effective two week deferral in 2019 coal production and sales.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/26032019/paringa-resources-provides-an-update-on-its-poplar-grove-operations/
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