Mine Details
Mandalong
http://www.centennialcoal.com.au
thermal-black-coal, Town, DiDo
Phone:
Address:
177 Mandalong Road, Mandalong, NSW, 2264
State: 177 Mandalong Road, Mandalong, NSW, 2264
Email:
The Mandalong black coal mine in the Hunter Valley of NSW commenced operations in 2005 after it was purchased from Powercoal in 2002, by its current owners, Centennial Coal. It is an underground mine that uses the longwall method of mining thermal coal for both the export and domestic market.
2011 was a Record Breaking Year for the Mandalong Underground Coal Mine In 2011 the Mandalong underground mine extracted 5.53 million tonnes of coal which is fractionally above its estimated full production capacity of 5.5 million tonnes. Besides managing record production in 2011 it also managed to further expand its infrastructure, mining operations and community focus which included developing important environmental initiatives.
The Mandalong Mine is Closely Integrated With Newstan
Coal from the Mandalong mine is transported over private internal roads by haulage trucks to Newstan where it is loaded onto railway wagons and taken to the port at Newcastle for export overseas. Coal sold domestically is transported by conveyor to its relevant power customers. Mine infrastructure consists of private haul roads and overland conveyors. The known coal reserves on the mining site total 88 million tonnes which gives it an expected life of 16 years.
The Mandalong coal mine management places strong emphasis on continually improving its work practices that has resulted in an impeccable safety record. This approach to workers welfare has resulted in it creating a happy, safe work environment for all employees. It is also continuing to promote and achieve performance improvements that benefits all involved in the operation, from miners through to shareholders. To this end the company has constructed a new haulage road that now links the Cooranbong facilities with Newstan where the Mandalong coal is processed at the Newstan coal preparation facility before being loaded onto the railway wagons to take it the 25 kilometres to the Newcastle port. It has also greatly improved car parking for workers and visitors cars and built a new bathhouse.
Only 19 Days Lost in Relocating the Longwall Equipment
2011 was also a benchmark year for the Mandalong underground coal mine, as in November that year, it only took 19 days to relocated the longwall equipment from longwall 11 to longwall 12. This was considered a memorable achievement in that the quantity of steel used in longwall equipment can be equalled to that of the Eiffel Tower. To undertake the change-over workers had to disassemble the longwall move it to its new position and reassemble it again three kilometres away. All being achieved underground.
Decline Constructed by John Holland
The Mandalong underground coal mine is established on a 40 hectare site and is accessed via a one in eight decline that was constructed by John Holland Construction for a distance of 1.3 kilometres through coal, shale, conglomerate and sandstone, from the surface to the West Wallarah coal seam. The portal was extended until stable rock cover was obtained. During its construction the excavation and necessary support of the portal box cut involved the placement of all stockpiled material as the length of the portal itself was 140 metres. The drift from the portal continued at the same gradient till it reached the coal seam.
Southern Extension Guarantees a Long Life for the Mandalong Mine
The Mandalong Southern Extension joins the Mandalong mine workings to its south. This extension will not entail any changes having to be made to the surface infrastructure and will not increase production but it will extend the life of the mine to 2035 and secure the employment of its 300 employees.
