Despite a technically challenging year, the North Goonyella mine in central Queensland has produced 3 million tonnes for the year to date. The fact that the mine lost a total of 13 weeks in the last six months makes this achievement all the more commendable.
The mine lost nine days recently when a known fault turned parallel to the face. General manager Brian Nicholls said past experience of the mine's geology had shown that the best strategy in such circumstances was to stop production and introduce additional support.
Production was stopped and polyurethene was injected into paralled holes in the face from 130 chock to 100 chock. For the next four weeks production was around the 100,000 tonne per week mark but by the time the face got to the maingate the fault presented as a full 6m fault.
Sorting this problem out with additional support took a further six days but, as Nicholls commented, a week's stoppage is better than two months of no production. By Sunday May 21 the mine was back in full production and producing around 14,000 tonne per day.
North Goonyella are due to take delivery of a new $8 million, 4,000 tonne per hour DBT AFC with two 850 kW motors, one transversely mounted at the maingate. It is configured to accept another 850 kW motor if more power is needed. A second-hand Joy shearer from Clarence colliery has also been purchased. The shearer is four years old and has cut 2.7 Mt of longwall coal. The equipment is due to undergo compatibility trials in the DBT Mackay workshop and should be ready for installation on longwall block 2 North.
Nicholls said his goal was to eliminate downtime on the face and bring up the availabilities of all the gear. "Our utilisation should go up as a result and that's where we can make some real money."
North Goonyella typically brings in contractors for panel changes and the next changeout, scheduled for July is currently under tender.
