The feasibility study will cover the mine design, coal handling plant, mine facilities and infrastructure, and will also include a rail upgrade and operational plan component.
Coalworks said the base case was for mining 3 million tonnes per annum of thermal coal with a view to ramp up to 6Mtpa.
The company is also drilling, with a view to upgrading the 760Mt of total indicated and inferred resources to allow the feasibility study to be based on a measured resource.
Coalworks managing director and chief executive officer Andrew Firek welcomed the involvement of Runge subsidiary Minarco-MineConsult.
“Runge Limited has worked in the Australian coal industry for over 30 years and has access to more than 400 staff in 18 offices worldwide,” Firek said.
“Their experience combined with the momentum achieved by the consultants joining the BFS management team positions us to complete the BFS by mid-2010.”
The Oaklands North project is a joint venture between 60% stakeholder Coalworks and 40% owner Willala Pastoral Company.
Shares in Coalworks are up 1.5c this morning to 20c.
