Since reopening in September 2021 after six years in care and maintenance, the Russell Vale mine has produced metallurgical coal for steelmaking from the rich Wongawilli Seam in the Illawarra.
Wollongong Resources has approval to extract 3.7 million tonnes of coal from the Wongawilli Seam over the five-year period 2021 to 2026.
Russell Vale has experienced underground fires in recent times, prompting the New South Wales Resources Regulator to place a prohibition order stopping work at the site on January 18, 2024.
On February 5, 2024, Wollongong Resources the decision was made to close the mine due to “ongoing regulatory risk”. |