Mine Details
Springvale
http://www.centennialcoal.com.au
thermal-black-coal, coking-black-coal, Lithgow, DiDo
Phone:
Address:
Mudgee Street, Lidsdale, NSW, 2790
State: Mudgee Street, Lidsdale, NSW, 2790
Email:
The Springvale coal mine, that is situated off the Castlereagh Highway in the Western Coalfields of New South Wales, near the city of Lithgow, has a joint venture ownership comprising Centennial Coal and SK Kores Australia Pty Ltd. It has a workforce of 285 people and 70 contractors.
Springvale had its Beginnings in 1992
Springvale began commercial operations in 1992 mining the underground thermal coal seam via longwall methods for both the export and domestic market. In 2011 the mine produced three million tonnes from an estimated full capacity of 3.5 million tonnes a year. The coal reserves at the Springvale mine total 61.1 million tonnes, an amount equal to 18 years at full production. Overland conveyors take the Springvale mine coal to be crushed and treated at the Western Main Coal Preparation Plant before it leaves the mine site. Untreated coal is taken along conveyors to Delta Electricity's Mt Piper and Wallerawang Power Stations. Processed coal is railed to Port Kembla for shipping overseas. Most of the coal produced at the Springvale operation goes to export overseas.
2012 was Springvale Colliery's Biggest Year
2012 was a particularly important year for the Springvale Colliery in that it marked its 20th year of coal production. During this time it had built a strong relationship with the local community through sponsorship of local organisations, events and schools, as well as being a big employer of local people. It was also the year its longwall extension received Federal Government approval despite several strict environmental conditions being applied to ensure environmental protection of the surrounding area. One of the conditions being the mine had to accept responsibility of successful rehabilitation of the mine site for 10 years after mining ceases on the site. The extension meant the mine was able to employ three longwall panels, 415, 416 and 417 covering 330 hectares. Longwall mining having been introduced to the mine in 1995.
A Finalist in the Mining Industry's own Prospect Awards for Commitment and Innovation
In 2008 the Springvale Coal Mine was a finalist in the industry's fifth annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards. It was nominated because of its commitment to improving production and its innovation. This nomination was particularly important to mine management because of the long battle to keep the mine operational over many years because of serious water problems and unstable ground. It was long considered in the industry as having the most difficult conditions in Australia. When the Springvale mine first started production mine workers had to work in waders because water and mud was often up as high as their waists and many roof falls occurred because of ground instability. Coal production in 1992 reached 1.6 million tonnes despite the difficult conditions and ever since that time production has increased mainly because of the development of a Strata Management System.
The Strata Management System involves intensive inspection, extensive roof monitoring, TARPS and a Geological Structural Model of the mine. Once this system was put in place it increased the level of pre-tension at the mine face in a weak roof situation which resulted in better ergonomics overall. The number of unexpected rockfalls decreased immediately.
Mine owner Centennial Coal was established in 1989 and is now one of Australia's biggest independent coal companies currently supplying the export and domestic markets with coking and thermal coal. It is a subsidiary of Banpu Public Company Limited, a mining and power company based in Thailand. Banpu is the largest independent coal mining company in Asia.
