The Bowen Basin in Central Queensland contains most of Australia’s high quality metallurgical (coking and pulverised coal injection (PCI)) coal reserves, as well as significant deposits of thermal coal.

Bituminous coal is mined from the Permian German Creek Coal measures.

Gregory–Crinum, a hard-coking coal mine 60 km north east of Emerald, reopened after being placed in care and maintenance by previous owners.

Sojitz acquired the Gregory Crinum metallurgical coal mine from BMA in 2019 and is currently mining from the open cut area, with a further strategy to investigate the viability of re-opening the previously sealed Crinum underground mining area.

Crinum mine
During 2020, Sojitz appointed Mastermyne to undertake a feasibility study focusing on the development of a high productivity bord and pillar mining operation. In parallel, Mastermyne were also engaged as the Mine Operator to undertake the re-entry process. The underground mining area was successfully re-entered in late October 2020, with no issues encountered. Mastermyne has continued as the Mine Operator whilst Sojitz finalised internal approvals.

The project scope includes the re-establishment of the underground infrastructure including conveyor systems, ventilation, associated mine services, remediation works and surface infrastructure all of which is expected to take approximately 6 months. Following the re-establishment works the mine will immediately transition into production with a staged ramp up to 3 bord and pillar mining units. The underground mine will produce approximately 11 million tonnes ROM (run of mine) over the life of the project. Mining production is planned to commence late this calendar year.

At full production, the underground mine is expected to employ 180 full time personnel. Mastermyne will provide underground mining equipment from its current fleet, including 3 bord & pillar miners, multi bolters and shuttle cars along with a range of ancillary production equipment to support the operation. The Contract is expected to deliver on average $80-100 million revenue per annum once in full production.

Gregory Crinum, 60 kilometres north-east of Emerald, comprises the Crinum underground mine, Gregory open cut mine, undeveloped coal resources and on-site infrastructure, including a coal handling and preparation plant, maintenance workshops and administration facilities.

Coal has been running through the washplant for a fortnight after refurbishment works by DRA Global and local subsidiary G&S Engineering.

The plant uses heavy medium cyclones, spirals and flotation to produce hard coking, soft coking and thermal coal products for the export market.

The plant is being brought online in three phases – initially operating at 600-tonnes-an-hour throughput.

The products include a primary hard coking coal product and a secondary product.