Name of the Project
United Wambo opencut coal mine project.

Location
Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia.

Project Owner/s
United Collieries, a 50:50 joint venture between Glencore and Peabody Energy.

Project Description
United Collieries plans to integrate and expand opencut mining operations at the existing United Wambo coal mine and United Colliery to facilitate the extraction of an additional 150-million tonnes of run-of-mine coal over a 23-year mine life.

The project comprises two opencut mining components.

The first component involves minor extensions to the Wambo coal mine’s existing opencut mining area, including a material increase in the depth of mining to allow for the extraction of deeper coal seams that underlie the approved Montrose pit (Wambo opencut).

The second component involves the development of a new opencut mining area (United opencut) on the site of the former United Colliery – an underground mine that operated until 2010.

The integration will not occur immediately but will follow a 12- to 15-month transitional period, whereby Peabody will continue to operate the Wambo opencut mine until the United opencut is established.

Potential Job Creation
The project will employ 500 full-time staff, comprising 250 existing and 250 additional staff.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
The project is estimated at $381-million.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
The New South Wales Government Independent Planning Commission has approved, with conditions, the United Wambo coal project.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
United Collieries, tel +61 2 65 789500.