Boggabri Coal was forced to temporarily suspend mining operations and declare force majeure in late January because all dams and mining areas on the site were inundated with more than 1000 megalitres of rainwater following unprecedented local rainfalls in November and January.
The mine will release 700ML of surplus rainwater into the Namoi River under strict conditions to protect water quality.
“Thanks to the support of the NSW government and the patience of the local community, 400 megalitres of the 700 megalitres of surplus water have been released to date,” Idemitsu operations executive director Peter Westerhuis said.
“We have made good progress removing surplus rainwater which has allowed us to recommence full operations in some areas of the mine.
“This will help us to protect the jobs of the 450 people employed at Boggabri mine and we anticipate being back to full production across the site within the next few weeks.”
Westerhuis said while surplus water releases made it possible for the recommencement of mining operations in some parts of the mine, force majeure remained in place until the remaining surplus water was removed and mining operations were fully restored.
