A RTCA spokesperson confirmed to International Longwall News there were no changes in the Kestrel Mine Extension (KME) project apart from the decision to use company staff more and contractors less.

The spokesperson said the changing market environment had created opportunities, including more internal resources for managing the work.

With the present stage of surface works expected to conclude within two months, the spokesperson said the project team will then end the current arrangement for the provision of engineering procurement and construction management services.

“The project owner’s team will continue activities including underground drift [and ventilation] development work, and will manage this in-house,” the spokesperson said.

“This change is designed to have no impact on the overall scheduled delivery of coal from KME.”

The shift from surface work to underground development will result in some contractor losses until surface works are resumed, and maximise efficiencies of the project, according to the spokesperson.

“It remains usual practice that contractor levels will continue to fluctuate from month to month at mine sites, depending on individual-site maintenance schedules and planned production schedules.

“However contract roles will still be needed for the underground work.”

Company staff and contractors were advised of the new approach to the project development towards the end of January.

The KME project aims to lift production to 5.7 million tonnes per annum from 2012, extend the mine life to 2031, increase the longwall face width to 375m and create up to 250 jobs in the construction process.

Barbecues mark 10 years

Kestrel mine yesterday celebrated ten years of operation since it was reopened on February 23, 1999.

Barbecues for everyone at the mine started up and will continue throughout the week.

Some of the original 14 Kestrel mine employees attended the first barbecue yesterday.

“There was a great spirit on site back in 1999 when Kestrel Mine opened,” Kestrel main roadways superintendent Matthew Uren said. “Everybody worked together, hooking in to have a go.”

“The past 10 years have been good,” Kestel longwall superintendent Justin Lawrence said.

“There have, of course, been difficult times, but as a team we have always pulled through.

“I would never have thought back in 1999 the mine would have become the success that it has.”

Kestrel general manager of operations Tony Lennox said the announcement that the KME mine was continuing added to the celebrations.

“Despite the global financial impacts on the steel industry, Kestrel Mine is committed to continuing our work in the local community and building capacity in the Emerald and Capella region,” he said.