The new block Longwall 910 is north and parallel to the existing 920 panel.
At 200m by 2790m long, the new panel is expected to produce 2.87Mt of ROM coal.
The other proposed block, Longwall 900W, is directly west of the existing 950-980 panels but will extend further south of the 980 panel.
This block will be 284m wide and 2126m long and is expected to result in 2.87Mt of ROM production.
At the eastern end of Longwall 910, Centennial aims to install a dewatering bore.
The maximum expected subsidence with these two additional panels is 1.47m but the impact will be further investigated under an upcoming environmental assessment by consultancy RPS Harper Somers O’Sullivan.
Centennial also plans to modify the pit-top dirty water management system to counter water run-off issues during periods of heavy rainfall.
Another modification involves a request to increase coal haulage by 500,000tpa along the existing private haul roads at the site.
If approved, this will lift the mine’s output to 4Mtpa.
The changes will increase the operational workforce by 10 to 225, and up to 75 contractors will also be taken on for development work over a 15-month period.
Timing of the work is subject to NSW government approval, which includes a stakeholder consultation process.
Longwall panels 960 to 980 were scheduled for mining from 2010 to 2014 under the previous state government approvals.
The 24-7 Angus Place operation produces thermal coal for domestic customers. It lies 15km northwest of Lithgow and is bordered by Xstrata’s Baal Bone longwall mine.
