The Sonoma Coal Mine (SCM) is an open-cut mining operation. The abutting rail line, the Newlands System, connects the SCM to the Port of Abbot Point where all coal products are shipped to international customers.
The SCM is permitted to extract up to 6.5 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of run-of-mine (ROM) coal to produce coking and thermal coal products for the export market. The SCM operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Sonoma Coal deposit is primarily made up of two economically viable coal seams which are located predominantly on the Sonoma West mining lease. Four open pits are planned for the Sonoma Coal Project site.
The Sonoma East 2 ML is proposed as an extension to, and in support of, the East Pit Complex. The inclusion of the Sonoma East 2 MLA area for the East Pit Complex will not require additional workforce or plant beyond the requirements for the broader SCM (i.e. activities on the Sonoma East 2 MLA will utilise existing SCM workforce and plant).
The QCoal Northern Hub (QNH) (into which the SCM is integrated) has adopted the industry standard model for contract mining operations, whereby the contractor provides the necessary mining fleet, support plant (e.g. graders, bulldozers, water trucks, etc.), equipment and staff to meet mine production requirements. However, as part of a broader commercial strategy for the QNH, QCoal has purchased a fleet of excavators and haul trucks, which are operated by the contracto ........