Name and Location
Moranbah South coal project, Queensland, Australia.

Client
A 50:50 joint venture (JV) between Anglo American and Exxaro Resources.

Project Description
The project involves the construction and operation of a greenfield coal mine in Central Queensland, which will have a peak production rate of up to 18-million tons a year of run-of-mine coal, which equates to a peak volume of about 14-million tons of high-quality coking coal for the export market. Coal will be mined using underground mining methods, with two longwalls and a bord-and-pillar operation proposed.

The mine surface facilities will include:
• Underground mine access drift portals, with separate drifts servicing the longwall mining areas and the bord-and-pillar mining area.
• Surface conveyors.
• Coal stockpiles.
• A coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP) and associated equipment.
• Rail-loop and train-loading facilities.
• A dry rejects emplacement area (DREA) and conveyor to transport rejects from the CHPP and the DREA.
• Administration buildings, a bathhouse and employee facilities.
• Power and water supply infrastructure.
• A workshop, warehouses and vehicle wash down, servicing and refuelling facilities.
• Various sediment, raw and mine water storage dams.
• A building associated with the bord-and-pillar operations, which may include facilities such as a radio control centre, offices and employee facilities.

The project will have a mine life of over 30 years. Mining will be followed by a decommissioning and rehabilitation period.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.
 

Value
Not stated.

Duration
Construction activities are expected to start in 2014. First longwall coal production will start in 2017, following the construction of underground mine access and initial development works.

Latest Developments
Diversified miner Anglo American has confirmed that the timing for the Moranbah South joint venture coal project will be adjusted to “suit more favourable market conditions”.

A spokesperson for the company told Mining Weekly Online that Anglo American had no specific timeframe in mind for the development of Moranbah South project, despite reports stating that the project had gained federal development approval.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Exxaro Resources manager: corporate communication Hilton Atkinson, tel +27 12 307 4843 or email hilton.Atkinson@exxaro.com; or investor relations, Prudence Lebina, tel +27 12 307 3081 or email prudence.lebina@exxaro.com.