Tag: Bowen Basin

Stanmore Coal has had great success with its pivot to Isaac Plains East operations in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, and looks set for a strong finish for 2019 with a solid toehold in the metallurgical coal market into 2020 and beyond. STANMORE Coal has reaped the financial rewards this year from its transition from the original Isaac Plains mine to Isaac Plains East in 2018. Chairman Stuart Bute said that favourable conditions and lower strip ratios at the new mine helped the company achieve an improved mix of coking and thermal coals, reduce production costs and increased sales prices and margins. “The company’s revenue from operations totalled a new record of $403.1m, an increase of 93pc on the previous year,” Mr...

Image: Australasian Railway Association.   BY AMY BLOM   RAIL is set to boom in mining, with several rail-reliant iron ore and coal mines schedules for development in WA and QLD, and a renewed focus on innovation. However, the industry continues to be challenged by a skills shortage.   Rail has entered a golden age, particularly within the mining industry, but it is still struggling to attract young talent, according to Australasian Railway Association (ARA) chief executive Danny Broad. Mr Broad, who has previously warned of a skills shortage, said there had been a huge increase in rail investment, which was good for the country, but presented challenges if the industry was not prepared. “It’s the golden era of rail at...

Image: Jorunn Lorenzen.   BY ELIZABETH FABRI   THE regional centre of Emerald is back on its feet, with a fresh round of coal projects crying out for workers and creating economic impetus for the Central Highlands. New infrastructure investments are also cementing the town’s future as a long-term services hub.   Japanese-owned Sojitz Corporation has been instrumental in Emerald’s revival as a mining services town. Sojitz, which has operated Minerva coal mine since 2010, began first production at its Meteor Downs project (jointly owned with U&D Mining) earlier this year, which required an additional 40 employees. Then in June Sojitz made the big announcement it would purchase BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance’s (BMA) shuttered Gregory Crinum metallurgical coal mine for...

Vitrinite team members with a core sample taken from their Karin deposit. Image: Vitrinite.   BY ELIZABETH FABRI   BOWEN Basin locals may be quick to talk down another coal boom, but there is no question confidence is returning to the region. An upturn in coal prices is boosting new exploration and development, M&A activity, mine expansions, and prompting companies to reopen shuttered operations. But can recent momentum be sustained?   Optimism has returned to the coal-rich Bowen Basin in central Queensland. In late 2016 recovering coal prices signalled hope – dampened only slightly when Cyclone Debbie rocked the region in 2017. And by early this year many Bowen Basin miners were wearing a smile again. Take Anglo American; the miner...