It is reported that plans are in place for an extension to Xstrata Coal’s mining operations at Ravensworth.

As per report an additional 300 million tonnes of coal has been identified by Xstrata within their current leases and the mining giant is currently undertaking an environmental assessment that it hopes to lodge with the State Government by July this year.

Xstrata currently has four operations in close vicinity to each other at Ravensworth, those being Cumnock, Ravensworth West, Ravensworth Underground and Narama.

Included in the proposal to go to the State Government would be the integration of three open cut mines under one consent agreement, which would allow for more efficient management of the operations.

Mr Benn Hiatt senior project manager for the Ravensworth Operations project said that the proposal to go to the State Government would seek permission for the extraction of 16 million tonnes of coal per annum for the next 29 years. He added that the project will see a total capital expenditure of USD 750 million and would provide around 500 full time equivalent jobs of which approximately 200 would be newly created positions.

sourced : Singleton

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