Curragh

The Curragh open pit black coal mine, owned by Wesfarmers Curragh Pty Ltd, one of Australian's largest independently owned coal producers, produces 2.5 million tonnes of domestic and 6.5 million tonnes of export coal a year. The mine covers an area of 12,600 hectares in the Bowen Basin Region of Queensland 200 kilometres from Rockhampton and 14 kilometres from Blackwater.

Three Major Coal Products Produced at the Curragh Coal Mine

1. High ash steaming coal. This specific product is used for domestic electricity generation and is transported 160 kilometres by rail, to the Stanwell Power Stations at Rockhampton. This quality thermal coal from the Curragh mine is a result of blending middlings from the mine's CHPP (Coal Handling and Preparation Plant) and ROM (Run-of-Mine) bypass coal from the pit. It has a moderate to high calorific value as far as energy is concerned with very good ash fusion and combustion qualities because of its low sulphur and low moisture content.

2. PCI ( pulverised coal injection). A coal product that is exported to steel manufacturers around the world to lower their reliability on more expensive coking coal. Curragh PCI coal contains chlorine and sulphur and is low in phosphorus. These characteristics, along with it producing low ash and high energy, gives it considerable benefits in the PCI process.

3. Low ash hard coking coal. The predominant product of the Curragh coal mine since 1984. This product is highly sought after by steel makers in Japan, South America, Europe, and South East Asia. It is a readily recognised export brand that has become renown for its quality consistency, low coke oven wall pressure and low ash content. Curragh coking coal can be used as a standalone coal product, or blended with other coals, when producing foundry or blast furnace coke.

Curragh export coal is taken 300 kilometres by rail, to the port at Gladstone, for shipping to its various buyers around the globe. Current reserves will allow present production levels to continue to at least 2025.

Mine Expansion to Lift Production Levels

Curragh Mine expansion will, however, expand export capacity to well over eight million tonnes a year. Along with this expansion the mine has received a new CHPP washplant, six new Leibherr T282 trucks capable of handling 350 tonne at a time and a new 465 Bucyrus rope shovel. The mine employs 600 people of its own and more than 1,000 long term or permanent contractors.

A Coal Mine with a Strong Community Connection

The Curragh Coal Mine has always been a major supporter of the Blackwater community where most of its employees and contractors reside. It donates time and money to local sporting and recreational clubs, community groups and healthcare services. It also employs graduates, trainees and apprentices and offers work experience opportunities to local youth. It takes its responsibilities seriously as far as preserving and respecting local cultural heritage and to this end holds regular meetings with representatives of the traditional land owners of the area.