Newstan lochiel

The Newstan Lochiel coal mine at west Lake Macquarie, that will extend the existing Newstan Mine, includes an upgrading of the coal washery and preparation plant currently being used at the site so it will be able to process up to eight million tonnes a year. This means a doubling of its current capacity. It will also increase the workforce from the current 150 to 350.

Newstan Lochiel to Have a Mine Life of 21 Years

The Newstan Lochiel Mine boundary will extend north of the Eraring Power Station, west to the F3 freeway and east to Rathmines, with the towns of Awaba and Toronto to its north. The new mine itself will contribute an extra five million tonnes of coal a year to the company production from the immediate area, with a forecast life of mine to last for 21 years.

Newstan Coal Handling Plant to Handle Eight Million Tonnes Annually

The eight million tonnes of black coal a year to be processed at the upgraded Newstan coal handling plant will be taken by rail to the ports at Newcastle and Port Kembla for exporting to overseas customers. Current approvals only allow for three million tonnes a year. The coal will be carted by haulage trucks along a private road, for just over three kilometres, to the Eraring Power Station, from where it will be transferred to rail transport for the rest of the journey to the ports. The Newstan Lochiel Mine will be an underground operation reaching out under the Eraring Power Station.

Newstan Lochiel Formerly Known as Awaba East

The Newstan Lochiel Project, that began as the Awaba East Project, is located alongside the present Newstan coal mine. It has an expected four million tonne run of mine (ROM) longwall. This is believed to have a potential to produce 3.2 million tonnes of saleable black coal.

Export Will be Newstan Lochiel's Main Market

Coal produced at the Newstan Lochiel mine will be a soft coking coal aimed at the export market along with thermal coal for either export or domestic use. It is expected that coal produced at the Newstan Lochiel mine will eventually take over the demand for domestic coal that is currently being supplied by other Centennial Coal mines in the state as their supplies become depleted.

Newstan Lochiel to Replace Coal Supplies as Other Sources Become Depleted

The surface facilities at the Newstan Colliery are near both the Vales Point and Eraring Power Stations. They are linked to the Eraring Power Station by a private company heavy haulage road that will facilitate ongoing and steady supplies while at the same time reducing costs that would be have to be borne if the coal had to be supplied from other New South Wales coal mines. Another advantage is that Centennial Coal will also be able to process coal at Newstan Lochiel that has been mined at their other operations such as their Mandalong Mine. This will allow the blending of the different coal products to enable it to meet a wider demand.