The Ulan West underground mines the lower 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 o ........

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 West Mine entry is via entry portals directly into the Ulan seam via the Ulan West Box Cut. The Ulan West Mine Plan has main headings in the south of the mine plan with approximately 400m wide longwall panels to the North. Development of roadways is completed using continuous miners with shuttle cars and conveyors to remove the coal. Ulan West will utilise standard longwall mining methods and target the economic portion of the Ulan Coal Seam. The longwall face is installed at the northern end of the panel and mining progresses south toward the main headings to complete the longwall extraction.

During 2022, underground mining operations included development of roadways for LW7 and LW8 and the main headings consistent with first workings approvals. Extraction of LW6 was completed in June 2022. LW7 commenced in August 2022 and had retreated had retreated approximately 1320m at the end of 2022. Construction of Vent Fan 3 adjacent to LW8 and associated infrastructure commenced in 2021. Commissioning of Vent Fan 3 commenced in 2022.

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