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Australia

Dartbrook OP Project

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Overview

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StatusInactive / Suspended
Commodities
  • Coal (thermal)
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotOn the 28 October 2022, (2022 No649), the NSW Government under the Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979, implemented a State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) Resources and Energy Amendment (Dartbrook Mine) 2022 to prohibit open cut mining on the land, being defined as the Authority 256 boundary.

The Dartbrook Coal Project has faced strong stakeholder opposition and lengthy legal challenges about this issue in the past and any future open cut mining proposals are expected to attract similar scrutiny.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Tetra Resources Pty Ltd. 20 % Indirect
Australian Pacific Coal Ltd. 80 % Indirect
The Dartbrook Joint Venture comprises Australian Pacific Coal Limited (80%, via subsidiaries) and Tetra Resources Pty Ltd (20%, via subsidiaries).

Dartbrook Operations Pty Ltd is the appointed operating management company.

M-Resources will receive a 10% indirect economic interest in the JV through AQC (reducing AQC’s effective economic interest to 70%). VitolAsia Pte Ltd is the Sole Marketing Agent for Dartbrook coal.

Deposit type

  • Sedimentary

Summary:

Coal within Dartbrook is located on the western side of the Muswellbrook Anticline. Strata of the Permian Wittingham Coal Measures outcrop in the area and dip gently generally to the west. The location of the igneous intrusions and faults in the Dartbrook deposit is well-known. They have been considered for both resource estimation and mining operations. Based on observations from previous underground operations, the igneous intrusions and faults will have no material impact on the Dartbrook coal product qualities.

Within the Dartbrook Open Cut Pre-Feasibility Study mine schedule there are 13 coal seams amenable to open cut mining.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

CommodityUnitsLOM
Coal (thermal) Mt 172
All production numbers are expressed as clean coal.

Operational metrics

Metrics
ROM coal, LOM 226 Mt *
Raw coal annual capacity 10 Mt *
Stripping / waste ratio 4 bcm/t *
* According to 2018 study.

Production Costs

CommodityUnitsAverage
Assumed price Coal (thermal) USD 83 / t *  
* According to 2018 study / presentation.

Operating Costs

CurrencyAverage
OP mining costs ($/t mined) AUD  ....  Subscribe
Total operating costs ($/t processed) AUD  ....  Subscribe
* According to 2018 study.

Project Costs

MetricsUnitsLOM Total
Pre-Production capital costs $M AUD  ......  Subscribe
Total CapEx $M AUD  ......  Subscribe
Operating margin, %  ......  Subscribe
After-tax NPV @ 10% $M AUD  ......  Subscribe
After-tax IRR, %  ......  Subscribe
After-tax payback period, years  ......  Subscribe

Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Dec 5, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Dec 5, 2024

Total WorkforceYear
...... Subscription required 2018

Aerial view:

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