Moranbah north

The Moranbah North underground coal mine in Queensland is jointly owned by Anglo American (88 percent) and JFE Mineral (Australia), NS Resources, Shinsho Australia and Mitsui Coal with 12 percent each.

Moranbah North Mine is Operated by Anglo American
The mine, that is managed and operated by the majority partner, Anglo
American, using the long-wall method of mining, began operations in 1998. The mining lease itself covers an area of 6,761 hectares. Most of its workers live in Moranbah, particularly the new suburb comprising the Grosvenor Housing estate, an especially constructed mining family housing estate that was built in 1971 to house over 8,000 people.

Coal From the Moranbah North Mine Taken 150 Kilometres to Hay Point for Export
The Moranbah North coal mine is located in the northern region of the Bowen Basin of Central Queensland, 16 kilometres north of the town of Moranbah and 150 kilometres south west of the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal at Hay Point, from where the coal produced at the Moranbah North Mine is exported to iron and steel manufacturing companies in Taiwan, Korea, Japan. Europe, Brazil and India.

Moranbah North Mines Coal From the Goonyella Middle Coal Seam
Coal at the Moranbah North Mine is extracted from the Goonyella Middle coal seam located around 200 metres below the surface. At the present time the mine is producing 4.5 million tonnes of high fluidity premium hard coking coal a year. The 255 million tonne coal reserves at the mine is expected to last for close to 20 years at present usage levels. In 2007 the mine operator, along with the joint venture partners, introduced a powered roof support structure that significantly improved mine production at deeper levels. In early 2009 148 new supports were in place, each able to hold a weight of 1,750 tonnes.

Workforce at the Moranbah North Mine Reduced due to Falling Coal Prices
In August 2012, Moranbah North operator and majority owner, Anglo American, decided to reduce its mine workforce by 50 employees. This cut in the workforce coincided with the announcement that the company was reducing its two long-wall mining operations at Moranbah North to a single long-wall operation. The cut back was deemed necessary because of prevailing market conditions and falling coal prices.
Anglo American said at the time it was going to achieve the workforce cut back through the implementation of a voluntary separation plan in which it invited workers to volunteer to leave the mining industry through personal circumstances, wherever possible.

Moranbah North Mine is Community Aware
The Moranbah North Mine has a history of working hand in hand with the local community by improving services and facilities whenever it is able to do so. To this end it has recently contributed the following assistance:

- Donated over $70,000 to the Moranbah Boxing and Sporting Club for the purchase of gymnasium equipment
- Contributed $10,000 to the Moranbah State School to assist in its buying of whiteboards
- Purchased a $45,000, 12 seat bus for the ISSAAC Regional Council Moranbah Early Learning Centre
- Provided one million dollars to upgrade the Moranbah Greg Cruickshank Aquatic Centre
- Set up an Anglo American town office to keep townspeople informed as to the company's future plans and projects.
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