In the application consultancy Umwelt stressed that this project, called the Ulan West Extension, covered ground that was not under any existing approved activities for the separate Ulan and Ulan West longwall operations.
The Ulan West longwall mine produced first coal last year with this mine and an associated open cut extension receiving a 21 year mine life-inclusive New South Wales government approval in November, 2010.
Under the UWE project, Glencore aims to extend six longwall panels to the west of the already approved Ulan West mine plan.
Each panel, named LW6 through to LW12, will be extended by between 900 to 1300 metres long under the proposal.
Associated construction work for the UWE project includes building ventilation shafts and bringing in more dewatering infrastructure.
Umwelt said the UWE project covered the production of about 13 million tonnes of coal and would extend the life of the Ulan mining complex by two years.
Activities for this project are expected to start in 2016 and continue to about “2033”, given the panels will be used for extending the mine life of the Ulan complex.
