Mangoola

Description of Operation

Mangoola Coal is located near Wybong, approximately 20 km west of Muswellbrook and approximately 10 km north of Denman in the Upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales.

Approval to construct and operate the Mangoola open cut coal mine was granted by the NSW Minister of Planning on 7 June 2007. In October 2007, Xstrata Coal purchased the mine. Xstrata Mangoola Pty Limited manages the mine on behalf of Xstrata Coal.

Xstrata Mangoola is approved to extract and process up to 10.5 million tonnes per annum of coal from an undeveloped coal reserve at Mangoola for a period of 21 years from the granting of the mining lease on 20 November 2008.

Xstrata Mangoola received approval for its Early Works modification to the Project Approval on 22 July 2008. The primary purpose of the modification was to enable access to the site to obtain suitable material and store unsuitable material for the upgrade of local roads prior to on-site construction. Activities for the Early Works program include the development of the site access road and associated intersection, replacement of water lines to provide water for construction, upgrades on Wybong Road East, establishment of site infrastructure for workers and the establishment of a borrow pit and internal roads. Following the completion of safety enhancements to Wybong Road West, Mangoola Coal commenced the Early Works program on 5 January 2009 and is expecting them to continue for a period of 6 to 8 months.

Following completion of our Early Works commitments the project will now continue on into the Construction phase with the project planned to be complete by early 2012.  Our project teams are ramping up accordingly to meet the challenge of delivering this world class project.  We’ve got plenty of work to do and we’re looking forward to a busy couple of years.

Early Works has progressed well with both Denman/Bengalla Road and Wybong Road/golden Highway intersection upgrades now substantially complete.  Completion of these intersections was required to provide safer access to the mine site.

Wybong Road East (Roxburgh Road to Mine Access Road) upgrade works are now well advanced and is expected to be completed in April 2010.  The extent of work being undertaken will provide a safe and reliable local road for all users.  We appreciate the patience of users of this road have shown thus far and we are making every effort to minimise disruption whilst these works are undertaken.  I would like to take this opportunity however to remind all users of the road that temporary traffic controls and speed restrictions are there for every ones safety so please abide by the signs.

With opening of the Bengalla Link Road, Muswellbrook Shire Council have agreed to amend the Early Works Traffic Management Plan to allow heavy vehicles to use this road to access the mine site and Wybong Road upgrade works.
Our new permanent mine access road is now complete and this will provide all weather access to the site during the initial construction phase and then through the life of the mine.  We’ve been able to source most materials for construction of the new mine access road and Wybong Road upgrade from our own site.  This will be particularly helpful in minimising gravel truck movements on Wybong Road during the construction of the mine.

Bulk earthworks for the coal preparation plant area have commenced and work on dams and rail loop have commenced.  In early 2010 we are planning to commence construction of the coal preparation plant, workshop and office facilities.

Contact

Community Response Line and Blasting Hotline: 1800 014 339

For any issues regarding Mangoola Coal please contact our 24-hour community response line on 1800 014 339 or Mangoola enquiries e-mail at mangoolaenquiries@xstratacoal.com.au

Careers

Job opportunities with Xstrata Coal are posted on the Xstrata Careers website which lists all Australian positions available. This website provides full details on the roles, responsibilities and conditions of employment for each position and the qualifications sought.