PERTH (miningweekly.com) – An optimisation study of the coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP) at the Buck Creek No 1 mine, in the US, has resulted in higher overall product yield, saleable coal production and sales revenue, said ASX-listed Paringa Resources.
Feedback from utilities within Paringa’s initial target market confirmed optimal coal specifications for future sales from the Buck Creek No 1 mine to consist of washed, higher heating content and a blended lower heating product.
Paringa completed the optimisation study to redesign the CHPP to produce a washed and blended coal product, resulting in the improvements in the project fundamentals.
The optimisation study, which also indicated lower operating costs, was part of the prefeasibility study being completed for the Buck Creek No 1 mine, which was due for release in March.
A 2014 scoping study indicated that the Buck Creek No 1 mine could deliver 3.4-million tonnes a year of saleable coal, over a mine life of 16 years, and would require a capital investment of $76-million, along with a coal handling and process plant and barge load-out facility of $33-million, bringing the total capital cost to $109-million.