Ulan No 3 mines the base level 3 metres of the Ulan seam for thermal coal. The Ulan Mine Complex (Ulan No.3, Ulan West) is at the western limit of the geological formation known as the Sydney Basin and at the southern end of the Gunnedah Sub-basin. The resource coal targeted for extraction is from the Illawarra Coal Measures, which are of Permian age and overlain by sedimentary formations of varying thickness and types including sandstones, shales and alluvium. Ten coal seams (nine in the west) occur within the coal measures; eight occur above (seven in the west) and one below the Ulan Seam. These seams range in thickness from approximately 0.4 to 10 metres (with the Ulan Seam being thickest). Apart from the Ulan Seam, all seams within the mining leases are considered uneconomic in the current market due to their high ash content. The main geological features present within the Ulan Mine Complex and in particular within the underground mining area are Triassic Narrabeen Group sandstones overlying the Permian sedimentary rocks of the Illawarra Coal Measures; and some Gulgong granite. More recent Jurassic Pilliga sandstone (over Gomiala shale) caps the Narrabeen layers in the north east and quaternary sands are present along rivers and major creeks. The Ulan Seam generally dips uniformly towards the north-east at between one and two degrees, and the seam thickness averages 5 to 7 metres (see Stratagraphic Profile) throughout the Ulan Mine Complex. It consists of ten separa ........

The Ulan Underground Mine (UUG), the Ulan West Underground mine (UW), the Ulan Open Cut mine, coal processing as a collective, are referred to as the Ulan Coal Complex (UCC).

The Ulan Underground entry is via a drift portal entry adjacent to the Ulan Underground Offices. The Ulan Underground Mine Plan has main headings in the centre of the mine plan with approximately 400m wide longwall panels to the West and East. Development of roadways is completed using continuous miners with shuttle cars and conveyors to remove the coal. Ulan Underground will utilise standard longwall mining methods and target the economic portion of the Ulan Coal Seam. The longwall face is installed at the end of the panel furthest from the main headings and mining progresses toward the main headings to complete the longwall extraction.

During 2022, Ulan Underground mining operations included development of roadways for LWW8, LW30 and LW31, in accordance with first workings approvals. Extraction of LWW7 was completed in June 2022. LW30 commenced in July 2022 and had retreated approximately 1460m at the end of 2022.

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