Bowen Coking Coal Limited has announced that clearing and grubbing operations are underway at its greenfield Ellensfield South pit, part of the recently acquired Burton Complex.
In addition to the Burton Coal Handling and Processing Plant (CHPP) and Mallawa Train Load Out (TLO), the Burton complex includes the Lenton pits, the Broadmeadow East pit and Burton pits, which consist of three unmined open-cut deposits, namely Ellensfield South, Plumtree North and Isaac.
Aside from the clearing operations, the company is also exploring several potential historic pit extensions and additional unmined areas for mining potential in light of the strong metallurgical coal price outlook.
Bowen contractor BUMA Australia has mobilised an additional excavator fleet at the site to increase coal production in the short term. Meanwhile, another new fleet will be deployed at Ellensfield South to further support mining operations once sufficient pit-room is available from boxcut development activities.
The first Run-of-Mine production from the Ellensfield South pit is expected to happen in the third quarter of 2023. It is planned to ramp up to a steady-state production rate of between 2 Mtpa and 2.4 Mtpa for approximately three years, after which the mining fleets are expected to relocate to the large Plumtree North pit.
According to Bowen CEO Mark Ruston, the company is now looking at the refurbishment of the second CHPP module and the skyline conveyor at the TLO facility to increase Burton’s processing capacity to a nameplate of 5.5 Mtpa.
“Bowen is making great strides at the Burton Complex and delivering on the first phase of our growth strategy to become a significant producer of high-quality, low-ash and low-sulphur coking coal for global steel production,” Ruston added.
“Committing to the expansion of Burton capacity demonstrates Bowen’s firm belief in a robust, long-term future for high-quality Australian metallurgical coal exports,” the executive stated.
