Donaldson mine moves to care and maintenance

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Image credit: www.yancoal.com.au

Yancoal has announced that the Donaldson coal operation was placed under “care and maintenance” following the cessation of mining activities at the Abel underground mine and the commencement of new feasibility studies.

Image credit: www.yancoal.com.au
Image credit: www.yancoal.com.au

The company said that care and maintenance includes the ongoing rehabilitation of the Donaldson site in accordance with existing approvals, as well as the management of the site both above and below ground.

Regarding its future steps, Yancoal said it is considering all options for the potential further mining of the Abel underground.

“The move to care and maintenance is in response to ongoing global market challenges as the operation considers the future development of new underground working areas,” Yancoal said in a statement to the ASX.

Adertisement

“The majority of Donaldson employees have been redeployed to the neighbouring Austar and Ashton underground operations.”

Located in the Hunter Valley, Donaldson’s underground Abel mine produces thermal and semi-soft coking coal for blending, exporting via the Port of Newcastle.

Donaldson Coal includes the Abel underground mine and former Tasman underground mine, located near the Port of Newcastle.

Donaldson’s Abel underground mine produced a total 1.81 million tonnes of ROM coal and 1.33 million tonnes of saleable coal for 2015.