PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Coal miner Bowen Coking Coal has started production at its third opencut mine in Queensland, announcing on Friday that boxcut mine development had started at the greenfield Ellensfield South pit, which forms part of the recently acquired Burton Complex.
The first run-of-mine production from the Ellensfield South pit is expected in the third quarter of 2023 and is planned to ramp up to a steady state production rate of between 2-million and 2.4-million tonnes a year for a period of three years, after which the mining fleets are expected to relocate into the larger Plumtree North pit.
“Turning on the first stage of the Burton wash plant is a very significant milestone for the company,” said Bowen CEO Mark Ruston, noting that the project was completed within budget and on time.
“We will roll straight into the refurbishment of the second coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP) module and the skyline conveyor at the train load out (TLO), which will take the total Burton processing capacity to a nameplate of 5.5-million tonnes a year.
“Bowen is making great strides at the Burton Complex and delivering on the first phase of our growth strategy to become a significant producer of high-quality, low-ash and low-sulphur coking coal for global steel production. The opening of the Ellensfield South pit is another major milestone for Bowen following first coal sales from the Broadmeadow East pit and Bluff mine in the southern Bowen masin last year. Committing to the expansion of Burton capacity demonstrates Bowen’s firm belief in a robust, long-term future for high-quality Australian metallurgical coal exports.”
In addition to the Burton CHPP and Mallawa Train TLO, the Burton Complex includes the Lenton pits, Broadmeadow East (BME) pit and Burton pits consisting of three unmined open-cut deposits: Ellensfield South, Plumtree North and Isaac. Bowen is also exploring further several potential historic pit extensions and additional unmined areas for mining potential in light of the strong metallurgical coal price outlook.