Mining

According to reports, 1355 small coal mines were shutdown in the first three quarters of this year as part of efforts to restructure China’s mining industry.

The Mining Association of BC has congratulated the international rescue team, which freed the 33 miners stuck underground in Chile.

Under new regulations, China’s mine managers are now required to accompany their workers underground. Failure to do so will result in hefty fines.

Following results from the first coke tests at its Zambeze coal project, Riversdale Mining has announced that the project will produce hard coking coal. The results come from two coal seams, and the company plans to test the remaining seams in Q1 2011.

Peabody energy will expand production at its Gateway mine, Illinois, by 40% to 4.5 million tpa to meet demand. The expansion is expected to cost US$ 175 million.

In India, plans are afoot to increase coal production by introducing a bill that will mean that the mines must share a portion of their profits with the locals.

Continental Coal Ltd’s Vlakvarkfontein coal mine has exceeded its monthly production target of 100,000 t during its second full month of operation.

Hunnu Coal has announced the results of coal quality analyses performed on samples taken from the due diligence drill cores at the Tsant Uul coking coal project. Initial test results demonstrate similarities to coals at the giant Tavan Tolgoi field.

Peabody Energy has approved the expansion of the Wilpinjong thermal coal mine in New South Wales, Australia, which is expected to increase production by 2 – 3 million tpa from 2012 as part of the company’s push to increase Australian production to 35 – 40 million tpa by 2014.

The remaining five bodies have been recovered from a flooded coal mine in China, raising the death toll to 13.

Aquila Resources has completed the feasibility study for the Washpool coking coal project in the Bowen Basin, Queensland. The project will cost AU$ 320 million to develop and produce 1.6 million tpa of hard rank hard coking coal over a mine life of 25 years.

July 2010: Kay Sever outlines how Culture Change starts with Management, Not Improvement Teams or Tools

National Coal Corp. has started construction of Mine 12, which is expected to produce up to 40,000 t of coal per month when completed.

Patriot Coal is closing its Harris No. 1 mine a year early due to difficult geological conditions.

An explosion at the San Fernando coal mine in Amaga, Antioquia province, Colombia, has killed at least eight miners and trapped over 70 more underground.