The new preparation facility doubles blending capacity and incorporates a 180 meter skyline conveyor system that moves coal from the preparation plant to a railroad loadout facility for transportation to the port.
The plant serves the North Wambo underground and Wambo open cut mines which export thermal and PCI coals to Asian customers through Newcastle Port.
The complex expansion includes development of the North Wambo Mine, which was commissioned in the fourth quarter of 2007 and is among three major Australian mines Peabody completed this past year.
North Wambo is ramping up to produce more than 2.5 million tonnes per year, while the Wambo Mine produced more than 4Mt last year.
"After nearly doubling Australian coal sales last year, we are increasing our throughput again this year and will continue to expand over time as coal chain throughput climbs in the next several years," Peabody Australia managing director Julian Thornton said.
