MINES

Redbird West takes flight

A NEW highwall operation is up and running in Ohio that will produce 80,000 run of mine tons mont...

Donna Schmidt

The Redbird West operation, in Jefferson County, cut its first coal on October 31 and will mine from the Pittsburgh 8 seam, OAE president Michael Jamison told International Longwall News.

Due to geology that includes roof coal, an approximate one-foot binder and the main bench, crews will aim to cut between 50 and 55 inches of the 60in average seam, OAE director of operations Stanley Piasecki said.

Piasecki said the complex will include other highwall punch sites when complete, and the miner will move from area to area with one future face measuring about 3000ft.

The property - near Brilliant, Ohio - is close to AEP's Cardinal generation facility and owned by the power generator but leased by OAE.

AEP will be the sole beneficiary of the output from the highwall, which will be delivered to Cardinal by truck for processing and use.

Officials for OAE said the mine is currently hiring a second shift crew for the site to add to the one group of about 60 now working 12-hour shifts. The total crew will be about 150 when all hiring is complete and the operation will likely work on those two shifts five days a week.

A highlight for the new mine is its new ICG Addcar highwall miner, a milestone in itself for the supplier, marketing director Brad Lewis said.

"OAE purchased the first ever Narrow Bench Highwall Mining System manufactured by ICG Addcar Systems," he said.

"The main advantage of the Narrow Bench System is that the amount of mountain to be removed for the system to complete its work is less.

"This means lower cost coal and reduced environmental disturbance."

OAE is a division of Ohio-based Murray Energy Corporation.

For more information on Redbird West, its lifespan, and ICG Addcar's relationship with the operator, check out the December edition of American Longwall Magazine.

TOPICS:

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

editions

ESG Mining Company Index: Benchmarking the Future of Sustainable Mining

The ESG Mining Company Index report provides an in-depth evaluation of ESG performance of 61 of the world's largest mining companies. Using a robust framework, it assesses each company across 9 meticulously weighted indicators within 6 essential pillars.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2024 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of exploration trends and technologies, highlighting the best intercepts and discoveries and the latest initial resource estimates.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production