Mt thorley

The Mount Thorley mine near Singleton in New South Wales has been in operation since 1981 when it was founded by R.W. Miller and Company Pty Ltd. In 1989 Coal and Allied Industries Limited became the mine operators. It supplies the domestic and international market with up to 10 million tonnes of thermal and semi soft coking coal each year. In 2001 Coal and Allied purchased an interest in the mine and in 2004 the Mount Thorley Mine was integrated with the nearby Warkworth Mine. In 2012 Coal and Allied was granted permission to extend mining operations at Mount Thorley but soon after became de-listed on the ASX and was taken
over by Rio Tinto Coal Australia who also became the mine operator.

Mount Thorley Uses a Dragline, Truck and Shovel Method of Open cut Mining
Mount Thorley is a multi seam black coal mine that uses a dragline, truck and shovel method of open cut mining. The operation consists of two coal handling and preparation plants as well as a train loading facility. Mining is centred on the Wittingham Coal Measures that is part of the Sydney Basin in the Hunter Coalfield. Before the coal is taken by train the 90 kilometres to the Port Waratah coal terminal at Newcastle, for exporting to the company's overseas customers, it is washed and prepared to export standard at the on-site coal preparation plant.

Over 1,100 Workers Employed at the Mount Thorley Warkworth Mine in 2012
In 2012, the Mount Thorley Warkworth operation employed over 1100 workers on the project who were working in shifts keeping the mine operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Producing 1.9 million tonnes of semi soft coking coal and 1.3 million tonnes of thermal coal a year. In February 2012, the company was given approval to expand its operations that also extended the life of the operation to at least 2033. At the end of December 2011, Mount Thorley had coal reserves totalling 253 million tonnes.

The Mount Thorley Warkworth Mine Contributes to Community Projects
The Mount Thorley Warkworth mining operation has created a community development fund that has been supporting the local communities in the Hunter Valley since 1999. Since its beginning the fund has contributed more than $11 million for various community projects. The latest money granted to the community was an amount of $4.5 million that is to be disbursed between January 2012 and December 2014.

The mine also has a good relationship with the Upper Hunter Valley Aboriginally Community and to this end, in 2006, launched its Aboriginal Development Consultative Community (ADCC). The Mount Thorley Warkworth operation has contributed over $1.7 million in various projects benefiting the Aboriginal people of the Hunter Valley since the ADCC was formed. In 2011 alone it contributed $644,958 for 28 different ventures in partnership with various community groups and businesses.

Rio Tinto Coal Australia is a leading Australian mining company that has a proud record in developing and managing open cut and underground mining operations. It employed over 5,000 people in 2011 who produced almost 50 million tonnes of thermal, semi soft and coking coal for the international market.
†