Isaac Plains begins production activities

Queensland’s Department of Environment and Heritage Protection has accepted the Isaac Plains coal mine’s plan of operations, according to Stanmore Coal’s recent operational update on the mine. The plan covers the operational period through to the end of March next year.

Following the decision, operational responsibilities at the site were handed over to Golding Contractors, enabling the start of mining activities at the site. Production drilling has now begun with the first blast completed on 11 February. Golding has appointed Action Drill and Blast as drilling contractors at the site.

The dragline overhaul has also been completed under budget with operations set to be ramped up over the course of February.

“We are pleased with the significant progress made by Golding to date to mobilizing to site and kicking off mining acitivities within a short timeframe,” said Nick Jorss, Managing Director at Stanmore. “The site is a hive of activity as the team gears up for first coal production in April this year as planned.”

The company noted that recent heavy rainfall in Queensland – which caw 145 cm of rainfall in the region of the mine in 24 hours – had only a moderate impact on preparations to restart the mine. Although significant flows were recorded through the creek that runs through the mine area, only surface run off settler in the pits with only minor damage to haul roads.

“Our contractor is currently pumping the collected runoff to the disused southern pits and reinstating the other areas of the site to full condition,” the company said.

Stanmore bought the shuttered Isaac Plains mine fro Vale and Sumitomo Corp. last for year AUS$1. The acquisitions included all assets related to the mine, including the dragline and coal handling and processing plant.

The mine aims to supply metallurgical coal to North Asian steelmakers with negotiations “progressing well”, according to Jorss.

Edited by Jonathan Rowland.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/exploration-and-development/15022016/isaac-plains-begins-production-activities-2016-243/