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THIS EDITION • Barminco back with a bang in north-west Qld • Flood crisis sparks push for new discharge rules • Trailblazing women in resources celebrated • Bumper 2011 line-up for NT exploration forum

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NEWS

The Mining Advocate | March 2011

1

COVER IMAGE: A Liebherr R9800 excavator at work at Burton mine.

Photo: courtesy Thiess.

Story - Page 7

March 2011

FEATURES 7 Major Projects 8 Industry Update - Hard Rock A comprehensive wrap of exploration and operations in Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Welcome to our special edition Welcome with a focus on hard rock mining We present this feature as a means of adding value to the accurate, up-to-date and relevant information service we strive to provide at The Mining Advocate.

The information presented on Pages 14 to 19 relates directly to the North Queensland resources map. The map is an insert in this edition and is an extension of our regular Industry Update section. It coincides with the Xstrata Mount Isa Mining Expo.

There are more maps in the process of being designed: • May – Central Queensland coalfields including the Bowen and Galilee Basins.

• July – The Surat Basin.

9 Coal and Gas Update News in brief across the coal and gas industries.

10 Between Shifts 12 Education Feature 14 NQ Mining – Expo Special 20 Townsville Regional Capacity 21 Wet Season 22 Processing 23 Exploration and Drilling

• September – Expanding and emerging projects Queensland-wide.

Also let us know if you are interested in advertising opportunities.

24 Maintenance 25 Shutdowns 26 Living Remotely

We have been as exhaustive as possible in bringing you a resource that encapsulates the opportunities and efforts of small and large miners alike in developing the various veins of wealth that run under the great North West and other key hard rock mining areas.

Robert Dark

Give us your feedback. We’d love to hear it.

The Mining Advocate

30 Health in Mining

(Contact details below.)

managing editor

31 Building Mining Communities

It is part of our commitment to be the premier source on mining and processing in Queensland and the Northern Territory.

27 Safety and Rescue 28 Materials Handling 29 Training

CONTACTS p. (07) 4755 0336 f. (07) 4755 0338

www.miningadvocate.com.au

Email: ...........................................................info@industryadvocate.com.au

Managing editor:

Address: ......................................... U3/11 Carlton St, Kirwan, Q, 4817

Journalist: ......................... Belinda Humphries m. 0439 726 074

Postal: ...................................................... PO Box 945, Townsville, Q, 4810

Sales: ................................................p. (07) 4755 0336 m. 0417 623 156

......................... Robert

Dark m. 0417 623 156

Advertising booking deadline May edition: April 22 All material is copyright and cannot be reproduced in part or in full by any means without written permission of the managing editor. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher.

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NEWS

The Mining Advocate | March 2011

3

Battered industry seeks relief applications for new or amended TEPs – with the majority of approvals provided within a matter of days,” he said.

Mr Brier said some of the issues mines faced could have been minimised through better preparation prior to the start of the wet season, including investment in sufficient pumping infrastructure and storage capacity.

Coal operations have found the approvals system wanting as they struggle to shift excess water and resume production.

Queensland’s flood crisis has sparked calls for an overhaul of mine discharge rules amid fears further rain could lead to uncontrolled releases from sites continuing to hold excess water.

By early March the Department of Environment and Resource Management had granted Transitional Environmental Programs (TEPs) to 39 coal mines, three metalliferous mines and three coal seam gas sites, with a further six applications from coal mines under consideration.

This meant about three out of four coal mines in the state had or was seeking a TEP to allow water discharge from their sites, the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) said.

However, QRC chief executive Michael Roche said the approvals were of limited benefit to many operations.

“What’s generally happened in the coalfields is that the level in local creeks and watercourses has fallen to a more normal or lowflow or even no-flow situation and the approvals to discharge typically require greater flow,” he said.

Mr Roche said many coal companies were having to pump

and shift water around their leases to allow operations to continue – a situation which was hindering production and affecting the quality of blended product by limiting the areas of coal accessed.

There were mines with very little headroom to deal with further major inundations, increasing the possibility of “a nasty scenario” of a breach releasing large quantities of water in an uncontrolled fashion, he said.

The QRC is working with DERM on a review of the Fitzroy model conditions on water management and water discharge, which has been brought forward due to recent events. It is also working with the Centre for Water in the Mining Industry at the Sustainable Minerals Institute on a feasibility study for a salinity trading scheme for the Fitzroy catchment, based on a scheme operating in the Hunter River catchment in New South Wales.

DERM general manager - coal and coal seam gas operations, Andrew Brier, stressed that the review under way on the Fitzroy model was not about altering the

Site of MMG’s proposed Dugald River project.

Decision mid-year for Dugald River MMG has released its Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the proposed Dugald River project, 65km north-west of Cloncurry.

Chief executive officer Andrew Michelmore said the company expected to make the commitment to develop the Dugald River project around the middle of this year.

Subject to that decision and other required approvals, MMG could have the mine in operation during 2014.

“As a result of the impending closure of several major zinc mines over the next few years - including our Century mine, which is expected to close around 2015 - we believe the development of Dugald River to be very timely,” Mr Michelmore said.

It is expected that Dugald River will produce concentrates containing about 200,000 tonnes of zinc, 25,000 tonnes of lead and 900,000oz of silver annually over a 23-year mine life, with the resource open at depth.

The release of the EIS follows the completion of a feasibility study in 2008 which was updated in 2010.

Michael Roche

The QRC is working with DERM on a review of the Fitzroy model conditions on water management

QRC chief executive

fundamentals of the regulator’s approach.

“That is, this is not about creating lower standards for environment protection,” he said.

Mr Brier said DERM officers had been working long hours over the past few months to turn around TEPs as quickly as possible.

“As at March 12, the department has approved 59

“It is also unfortunate that, of those companies storing water on site, only a small number sought TEP approvals or amendments to their discharge conditions in advance of significant flows and rainfall occurring, which would have ensured they could have taken better advantage of large flow events that were experienced,” he said.

Concerns about the effect of mine discharge on downstream water quality after the 2008 floods led to a tightening of regulations for Bowen Basin mines.

Mr Roche said these new conditions had made it virtually impossible for those operations to get rid of water during 2010, so that many had entered the current wet season already holding excess water. They then faced months of high rainfall culminating in the deluge unleashed by Cyclone Tasha.

Coal producers’ ability to take advantage of TEP approvals during higher flows in local waterways had been restricted by inability to source pumping equipment and to gain physical access to areas of the mines, he said. The QRC had called unsuccessfully for the State Government to make an emergency direction under the Environmental Protection Act to allow mines to get rid of water across the board - within agreed water quality standards - rather than having matters dealt with on a case-by-case basis in such exceptional circumstances.

Underground revival An upsurge in underground mining activity in north-west Queensland has brought contractor Barminco back into the region with a bang.

The company has teams working to restart production at the Mt Gordon and Eloise copper mines, in addition to being selected as the underground development and initial production contractor for Xstrata Copper’s $589 million Ernest Henry Mining extension project.

“We also have two underground diamond drilling contracts, one with Ernest Henry Mining and one with Xstrata Zinc George Fisher,” Barminco chief operating officer Mark Adams said.

“In time we expect to be doing underground diamond drilling at Eloise mine and there is a possibility that we will be undertaking underground diamond drilling at Mt Gordon.”

The activity represents a significant ramp-up in the region for the Western Australian-based underground mining specialist.

Mr Adams said Barminco had only held two northwest Queensland contracts two years ago – at Osborne and Eloise mines, both of which subsequently ceased operations.

It has its sights firmly set on adding to its swag of contracts

Mark Adams Barminco chief operating officer

in the region, including a potential slice of action from Ivanhoe Australia’s substantial portfolio outside Cloncurry and MMG’s Dugald River project.

“We’re bidding for the restart of Osborne under the new owner, Ivanhoe Australia, and there is every indication that the Dugald River project will go out to tender later this year,” Mr Adams said.

“There is quite a big rampup in north-west Queensland for underground mining activities.”

Mr Adams said Barminco was “very excited” to be back in the region, which he described as holding a very important place in the

company’s growth strategy.

The company was generally undertaking a “measured expansion” out of Australia, including establishing a significant presence in West Africa through African Underground Mining Services (AUMS), a joint venture with Ausdrill, and in its own right in Egypt.

Mr Adams said Barminco offered a range of services beyond straight underground development contracting and was keen to increase its involvement in major infrastructure construction activities, such as its present project with Ernest Henry Mining.

Barminco is working on Stage 3 of Ernest Henry Mining’s underground extension, with two years to run in a three-year contract worth $171 million.

“During the contract period we will deliver a six milliontonne-a-year underground sub-level caving operation for Xstrata Copper which is something to be proud of,” Mr Adams said.

Mr Adams said Barminco was looking at the feasibility of re-establishing an administration centre at Mount Isa in the near future to support its growing diamond drilling business in the region.

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NEWS

March 2011 |

The Mining Advocate

Inspectorate to act on fatigue Road safety and mining shiftwork issues have been placed firmly in the spotlight following court findings on two fatal accidents.

The Queensland Mines Inspectorate will look to implement recommendations from a recent coronial report regarding fatigue as soon as possible, according to a State safety head.

Commissioner for Mine Safety and Health Stewart Bell was commenting after Coroner Annette Hennessey handed down her findings on two fatal road accidents that claimed three lives in central Queensland in 2005 and 2007. She said driver fatigue was a potential factor in the crashes, near Dysart and Yeppoon, which both involved coal miners driving home from their workplace.

“I’ve asked the chief inspector to arrange a meeting with Coroner Hennessey so we can go through the recommendations and understand clearly what she wants,” Mr Bell said.

The Queensland Resources Council has also committed itself to carefully considering the coroner’s recommendations to see what more it can practically do to improve the safety of employees as they travel to and from their work places.

Coroner Hennessey made a number of recommendations regarding policing and road standards in addition to calls for the development of a standardised definition of fatigue and a mechanism for the detection of fatigue impairment in drivers.

She has called for investigations into the appropriateness of “competency-based” fatigue training for the mining industry, the staging of a fatigue management forum and further research on the issue of mine shiftwork, fatigue and commuting.

Mr Bell said the coroner’s report had spurred on work the inspectorate was doing with coal and metalliferous advisory committees to develop a fatigue guidance note. While this would take the issue of commutes into account, Mr Bell stressed that the inspectorate had no jurisdiction outside the mine site.

The Bowen Basin tended to be the main focus of concern rather than the hard rock mining regions due to the volume of people driving from coal mines to nearby centres, he said.

While many coal companies provided bus services to take

workers back to centres such as Mackay, Mr Bell said there would always be workers who preferred to drive their own car.

“It goes back to freedom of choice. People like the independence of their own cars and they are keen to get home to their families - we understand that,” he said.

More targeted awareness campaigns may be required to help convince more mine workers not to drive straight home, Mr Bell said.

The inspectorate has initiated

a survey with the Department of Transport and Main Roads to look into the nature of traffic between the Bowen Basin coalfields and the coast.

CQUniversity professor of management Lee Di Milia is leading that survey project to determine exactly who is on the region’s roads in the morning, how far they are travelling and to examine a range of factors affecting their psychological wellbeing, including issues relating to fatigue.

Professor Di Milia said

Rest stop campaign The Mackay Road Accident Action Group (RAAG) has been targeting fatigue on the region’s roads, including through a new project to provide rest areas at key points throughout the Bowen Basin.

RAAG road safety co-ordinator Graeme Ransley said gap analysis work to determine where such stops were most needed had been completed.

The group was now canvassing mining companies and other groups to sponsor appropriate facilities, he said.

BHP Mitsui Coal had funded the initial analysis work while the Isaac Regional Council had been among the first to jump on board, backing a rest stop near Mackenzie River on the Fitzroy Development Rd, he said.

Mr Ransley said the tremendous growth in the coalfields, particularly in terms of traffic volumes on inland roads, was one of the reasons the rest stop project was so important.

Plant to pioneer low-emission process Liquefied Natural Gas Limited will pioneer a new low-cost, lowemission liquefaction process at its Fisherman’s Landing project in Gladstone in what it hopes will be the first of many applications of the technology.

Chief technical officer Paul Bridgwood believes the savings the Optimised Single Mixed Refrigerant (OSMR) process offers will make the technology attractive throughout the LNG industry once it has been proven through the Gladstone development.

The company believes the OSMR process will halve capital costs compared to competing technologies.

Mr Bridgwood said the process, which Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd invented and owns, was not revolutionary as it was a matter of applying known technologies that were already used in other industries.

However, he said the LNG industry generally was very conservative and had not made any great attempt to finetune the liquefaction process in order to tackle emissions.

“They’ve been using the same processes for the last 40 or 50

An artist’s impression of the planned LNG Limited plant at Fisherman’s Landing.

years – there has really been no incentive or interest to improve efficiency and reduce emissions,” he said.

“The level of emissions can be substantially reduced by applying what we’re doing, which is recovering the waste heat and energy in order to make the plant more efficient, thereby reducing emissions.”

Mr Bridgwood said the two other technologies commonly used in commercial LNG operations globally were the propane pre-cooled mixed refrigerant process owned

by APCI (Air Products and Chemicals Inc) and the Optimized Cascade Process owned by ConocoPhillips.

The OSMR process is expected to cut fuel costs and CO2 emissions per unit of LNG produced by about a third.

It is based on a single mixed refrigerant cycle with the addition of conventional combined heat and power technology and conventional industrial ammonia refrigeration to enhance performance.

Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd recently announced a share

placement deal with a China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) subsidiary that will help fund the development the planned LNG project at Fisherman’s Landing.

The deal includes an agreement to negotiate preferential terms for CNPC and its affiliates to use the OSMR process technology.

Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd is continuing efforts to source gas supply for its first two proposed LNG trains, each with a capacity of 1.5 million tonnes per annum.

shiftworkers, including miners, were only a subset within that group.

“What has been surprising is how many people who are not shiftworkers are driving around with too little sleep, perhaps as a function of our busy lives,” Prof Di Milia said.

“You have other people working long hours, mums with young kids, people with sleep disorders, for example.”

Prof Di Milia is collating data from 650 drivers surveyed after being stopped in traffic operations on the Peak Downs and Capricorn highways last year and hopes to build the sample number to 1000.

Prof Di Milia, who has been conducting work in this field for 20 years, said far more studies were needed regarding fatigue.

A range of contributing factors was often bundled under the umbrella of fatigue, he said, and much debate surrounded how fatigue was defined.

CQUniversity is also working on an indicator that police could use to gauge fatigue in motorists in the same way that breath tests are used to enforce drink driving laws.

• Fatigue control tips for shiftworkers - Page 30

LNG project updates • Dredging is due to begin in June in a $1.3 billion project to prepare the Gladstone Port to become one of the world’s major liquefied natural gas exporters.

The first stage of the Western Basin Dredging and Disposal Project has been awarded to joint venture partners Van Oord and Dredging International Australia.

• Santos has announced the final investment decision approving development of the $16 billion GLNG project. The project is expected to create 5000 jobs in construction in addition to 1000 permanent jobs in production.

• Australia Pacific LNG gained federal environmental approval in February for its coal seam gas to liquefied natural gas project. The project involves the development of CSG resources in the Surat and Bowen basins, a 450km pipeline and a multi-train LNG facility on Curtis Island, near Gladstone.

• The BG Group, in its annual strategy report, described plant construction in Gladstone as gathering pace and signalled its plans for a third train in its QCLNG project.

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The Mining Advocate | March 2011

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Road safety time bomb It is feared increased traffic from a new wave of mining growth will heighten the risk of fatigue-related crashes.

The boom in new coal and gas projects in Queensland presents a road safety time bomb unless the industry gets serious about tackling fatigue, according to a mining union safety representative.

CFMEU Mining and Energy Division industry safety and health representative Chris Gilbert believes issues such as fatigue and the potential effects on community safety were not examined thoroughly enough when mines began introducing 12hour shifts over a decade ago.

Increased traffic on regional roads as the coal industry went from strength to strength heightened the potential risk presented by tired miners commuting by road after working extended hours and compressed rosters.

“I wouldn’t let my wife drive from Moranbah to Mackay when the shift changes are on,” Mr Gilbert said.

“It’s just alive with people travelling back and forth, either out to the mines or they have finished a shift and are driving straight home.”

He said a lack of accommodation in coal mining communities was a major part of the problem.

Mr Gilbert believed the major developments planned for the Bowen, Surat and Galilee basins made this issue a time bomb, “unless they go in there and get serious about implementing some controls and look into the fatigue issue of travel home after extended shifts and compressed rosters”.

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC), the Queensland Mines Inspectorate and the major mining unions have been working on a guidance note on fatigue.

QRC chief executive Michael Roche said mining companies had been reviewing fatigue management policies and standards over the last few years, beefing up provision of bus services and stipulating the times when people must arrive on site in advance of their shifts.

“One of the issues that is still difficult is what controls do you have over your workforce when they finish their shift in terms of the desire of people, even where there are facilities provided, to finish shift and pile into their high-powered vehicle and race back home - sometimes driving a couple of hours from the mine having worked a five-day or seven-day roster of 12-hour shifts,” he said.

Companies were seeking expert advice regarding best way to design rosters to minimise fatigue both on site and for the trip home, he said.

“A number of companies have done very good work, providing a useful template,” Mr Roche said.

“We are trying to keep it focused on safety and individuals and keep it out of the space of bargaining around workplace conditions and the like.”

He stressed that the overwhelming number of workers on mine sites still lived locally.

Western Downs mayor Ray Brown said discussions had taken place with resources companies involved in development throughout the Surat Basin in relation to accommodation and travel arrangements to limit the distance workers were commuting by road.

“Lessons learned from the Bowen Basin have filtered down,” Cr Brown said.

He was hopeful road fatigue would not be as serious an issue in the Western Downs region, which had substantial towns situated more closely together and a large proportion of the mining workforce living locally.

Mr Gilbert said the North Goonyella coal mine, 40km north of Moranbah, had instated basic fatigue controls when it became the first site to move to a working week of four 12-hour shifts in late 1994 The operation had bussed its permanent workforce to and from site and offered “motel-style” sleeping arrangements in controlled blocks to minimise sleep disruptions, along with other fatigue control measures, he said.

Mr Gilbert said many sites were now running rosters with longer blocks of 12-hour shifts and looking into 14 to 16hour shifts, but offering the same or lower fatigue control measures.

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March 2011 |

The Mining Advocate

Heather makes a mark in mining A project manager taking practical steps to boost the number of women on her team has been honoured for her industry contributions.

When Heather Parry saw a proof of the recruitment advertisement planned for the Dawson North coal mine in central Queensland, she knew something had to change.

“There was this picture of a big burly bloke with a goatee,” Ms Parry said.

The Leighton Contractors engineer became project manager for the $157 million Dawson North mine project late last year, tasked with overseeing a return to production at a pit that was closed down during the GFC and establishing a satellite pit.

Ms Parry’s input prompted the use of a photograph of a female miner in recruitment advertising for the project to help break down the stereotype and encourage more women to apply. She set a target for her human resources team to recruit at least 20 per cent female operators and has been successful, with a current rate around 19.6 per cent.

“I have a personal target to get more females into the workshop as well – I don’t know how that’s going to go,” she said.

Ms Parry was recently named as overall winner in Queensland’s Resources Awards for Women.

She received the award at the Queensland Resources Council’s annual International Women’s Day Breakfast in Brisbane, where QRC chief executive Michael Roche announced the new target of 20 per cent women in nontraditional roles by 2020.

Although female participation

Heather Parry Leighton Contractors project manager

in the resources industry had risen to 15 per cent in Queensland, participation in areas where women were traditionally underrepresented such as operators, trades, engineers, geologists and senior management remained under 11 per cent, he said.

Ms Parry - who has a fiveyear-old daughter - said she had been both overwhelmed and underprepared for the awards honour, having nominated in order to spur on another woman to apply.

On her nomination form, Ms Parry wrote that she did not believe she was breaking new ground as there were countless

other mums who were project managers or in management positions on mine sites.

“However I like to think the way I’ve approached a typically male-dominated role without ever considering that I may not belong here may give confidence to other women,” she said.

Ms Parry has previously been involved in various construction and mining infrastructure projects including acting as project manager for construction of a section of the Rolleston railway.

She has lived in Biloela – about 60km from the Dawson North site outside Moura - for the past six years and said Leighton Contractors had previously employed a “reverse fly in-fly out” to get her to jobs.

Ms Parry said local girls often asked her about opportunities for women in the mining industry.

“I encourage them, but do tell them it’s hard work and long hours – they need to be prepared for that,” she said.

“But there are so many benefits – financial, job security, career progression – and they are going to be earning what their value is, whereas a lot of jobs that traditionally girls go for, I think, are underpaid.”

Ms Parry cites Anglo American chief executive Cynthia Carroll as being among her inspirations, but concedes that her own career aspirations may be curbed a little by her desire to live in a regional area.

She is hoping the two-year contract to deliver the Dawson North project will stretch into a longer-term arrangement for Leighton and allow her to remain in Biloela for some time.

Progress in fee dispute The Queensland Small Miners Council has claimed success in a dispute with the State Government over the implementation of new environmental fees.

Council chairman Ralph De Lacey said some aspects were still being resolved, however the government looked like addressing all key points the miners had raised.

Tenement holders were angered last year by a bungled mass mail-out of invoices for environmental authority payments and the way in which those fees were applied.

The council presented a list of demands to the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM).

Mr De Lacey, who

is also president of the North Queensland Miners Association, said DERM had agreed to address the issue of fees being triggered by applications for tenements rather than around the time of tenure grant.

Officials had indicated DERM would refund annual fees miners had paid in advance for applications, he said.

A 12-month transitional period is being implemented to allow people holding multiple environmental authorities for tenements that could be considered a single mining operation to amalgamate those authorities so they will be subject to a single fee.

Mr De Lacey said small miners had been withholding

such fees in protest to date.

“We are now encouraging our members to amalgamate what tenements they can and there is a criteria set by DERM stating how they see an integrated project,” he said.

DERM general manager of operations, environmental and natural resource regulation Lindsay Delzoppo said environmental authority fees were brought in after consultation and agreement with the Queensland Resources Council.

“Nevertheless, we are now working to consider a more streamlined arrangement for fees across government agencies, taking into account concerns raised by the small miners council,” he said.

Resources Awards for Women winners MaryAnn Wipaki, Amanda Humphrey, and Robyn Wright.

Photo: Roslyn Budd

Strong showing in the north-west Employees at Xstrata’s north-west Queensland operations have claimed a clutch of Resources Awards for Women (RAW ) honours.

The Queensland Resources Council-run award program recognises the contribution and achievements of women in the resources sector and promotes gender diversity within the mining industry.

This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award was won by Robyn Wright, who has worked at Mount Isa Mines for 34 years and holds the role of marketing and environmental analysis supervisor at the operation’s laboratory.

Mount Isa Mines copper smelter electrician Amanda Humphrey was named runner-up in the trade award category behind Simone Forbes from the Moranbah North coal mine.

Mining technician Kerrie-Lea Nicholas from Xstrata Copper’s Ernest Henry Mining tied with Sharon Ward from Rio Tinto Coal Australia’s Hail Creek mine for the operator award.

Xstrata Copper North Queensland Operations safety and health manager MaryAnn Wipaki was named runner-up in the overall RAW award for her role in advising management on health and safety matters and contributing to consistent yearly safety improvements.

This year the QRC launched a Gender Diversity Champion Award to recognise individuals, male or female, who have demonstrated outstanding effort to encourage women within the resources sector.

Mount Isa’s Dick Kostowski received the inaugural award for his work with Xstrata’s Vocational Skills Development Program, promoting equal opportunities in the mining industry for young men and women, including on-the-job training.

Heather Parry from Leighton Contractors was the overall RAW winner in 2011 with Ms Wipaki and Origin Energy employee Karen Stanley named as runners-up and Lisa Barter from Santos highly commended.

Contracting firm Thiess won the Best Company Initiative Award for a program that opens doors to the booming resources sector for indigenous women while Nanango State High School student Sarah Coughlan won the junior category.

MAJOR PROJECTS

The Mining Advocate | March 2011

7

Thiess scales up Burton fleet New equipment including the world’s largest backhoe excavator is on order for extension work at this major open-cut site.

Thiess is bringing out the big guns as part of its $1.3 billion project to extend mining operations at the Burton coal mine, 120km south-west of Mackay.

The mine became the first worldwide to take up Liebherr’s giant R9800 model excavator last year and Thiess is now adding a second to the fleet, in addition to 11 new 360-tonne dump trucks

A 350-tonne crane lifts the “penthouse”, or head house, to the top of the 80m prill tower at the ammonium nitrate plant site.

A lift for local housing Dyno Nobel will construct 28 new homes costing $10 million in Moranbah for employees of its new $935 million ammonium nitrate plant.

The company said the additional housing was required to ensure that the 80-strong full-time operational workforce could live with their families in Moranbah. The housing plans were announced at public information sessions held by Dyno Nobel’s parent company, Incitec Pivot, recently at the Moranbah Community Centre.

While heavy rains in January caused construction delays at the plant site, the company says the project is still on track to be completed in the first quarter of 2012. Construction involves a workforce of up to 600 contractors and is described as being “well past the half-way mark”.

The plant will supply ammonium nitrate products for use as explosives at Bowen Basin mines. It is expected to directly contribute $30 million annually to the local economy plus an estimated $40 million to the state and national economies.

to complement its capacity.

Bigger is definitely better at Burton, especially given the bulk earthworks required at the open-pit site, according to Thiess Queensland executive manager for mining Danny McCarthy.

“Although there is a major capitalisation required, the lower unit costs per BCM (bank cubic metre) moved is very attractive,” Mr McCarthy said.

The new 800-tonne backhoe excavator was priced between $13 and $14 million at time of purchase. The Caterpillar 797 trucks on order to upgrade the Burton fleet are worth about $6 million each.

Mr McCarthy said Thiess had a long association with Liebherr and had also been the first to use the R996 excavator, the class below the R9800. He said operators at Burton reported that the R9800 was a lot quicker in terms of loading times.

“It has taken them a bit to get used to the sheer size of it, because they are sitting so high (more than 5m above ground).

But it’s a great machine – it has been very reliable and very productive,” he said.

The second should be “in dirt” at Burton at the start of April.

The extension project will prolong the life of the Peabody Energy Australia-owned mine to 2016. It has secured about 500 jobs, while a further 50 to 100 positions have been created in construction.

“Without the widening being undertaken now, the mine would have been winding down around September this year,” Mr McCarthy said.

Thiess started operations at Burton in 1996 and has mined close to 50 million tonnes of hard coking coal and thermal coal for export from various pits within

the 45km site.The extension work will maintain Burton’s annual production capacity of more than 2.5 million tonnes of coal.

It will see operations return to

the original mining area, where high-quality coal will be mined to a depth of up to 240m - making Burton the deepest open-cut operation in the Bowen Basin.

The first Liebherr R9800 at work at Burton mine.

Groundbreaking deliveries The new R9800 model backhoe excavator bound for Burton mine is only the third of its kind to come off the Liebherr production line.

The first ever released also went to the central Queensland coal mine, while the second world-wide is being operated by Downer EDI Mining at the Fortescue Metals Group’s Christmas Creek iron ore mine in Western Australia.

Liebherr Australia mining manager for Queensland Tony Johnstone said the 800-tonne machine was the biggest backhoe excavator in the world.

The R9800 was designed with a standard bucket size of 42 cubic metres, with a target load of 75 tonnes, Mr Johnstone said.

The Liebherr R9800 is driven by two 1492kW- 2000 horsepower engines and boasts rapid loading cycles combined with tremendous digging and breakout forces.

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INDUSTRY UPDATE HARD ROCK

March 2011 |

Value adding

Mount Peake stacks up Australian resources company TNG reports positive results from an independent scoping study to evaluate the development potential of its Mount Peake iron-vanadium project in the Northern Territory. It is based on a mine life of more than 23 years, processing about five million tonnes of ore per annum.

The capital expenditure estimate for the first stage of development, at two million tonnes per annum, is about $370 million and more than $307 million for the second stage to five million tonnes.

The new beneficiation plant at Frances Creek mine.

Australian iron ore producer Territory Resources has commissioned a $4.3 million beneficiation plant at its Frances Creek mine in the Northern Territory.

The company has about 800,000 tonnes of scalp ore on stockpiles near the new plant which can be beneficiated to 60 per cent iron and sold as fines.

The plant, manufactured by Consulmet in South Africa, has a nominal feed rate of 130 tonnes per hour.

At steady state operation the plant will treat 80,000 tonnes of scalp feed to produce approximately 44,000 tonnes of high-grade fines ore every month.

Territory Resources managing director Andy Haslam said the commissioning of the beneficiation plant unlocked considerable value in the current environment of high iron ore prices.

NT gold project sold Australian rare earths company Arafura Resources has executed a contract of sale with Global Mineral Resources for the Mt Porter-Frances Creek gold project in the Northern Territory. Under the terms of the agreement, Arafura will receive $1.5 million cash, 7.5 million shares in Global and 7.5 million options exercisable at $0.25. The transaction is due to be settled at the time of a successful ASX listing by Global, which is expected by mid-year.

Thor picks up Spring Hill Western Desert Resources has agreed

to the staged sale of its Spring Hill gold project, about 150km south of Darwin, to Thor Mining for $1.25 million in cash and shares. Thor will gain an interest of up to 80 per cent in the project, which holds an indicated resource of 274,000oz of gold.

Thor chairman Mick Billing described the existing resources as significant and said the company would be actively assessing the potential for open-pit production in the near future.

Western Desert Resources, a major shareholder in Thor, said the sale would allow the company to focus on the development of iron ore operations at its flagship Roper Bar project, also in the Northern Territory.

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The results follow the company’s success in co-developing a new patented hydrometallurgical process which now underpins the project. TNG has decided to evaluate the potential for further processing its vanadium pentoxide product into highly valuable ferro-vanadium.

Manbarrum joint venture TNG has signed a joint venture agreement on its Manbarrum zinc-leadsilver project in the Northern Territory with the Sorby Hills Joint Venture (comprised of Kimberley Metals and a subsidiary of China’s largest lead producer, Hunan Yuguang Gold & Lead). TNG chief executive officer Paul Burton said the transaction would enable that company to focus on the continued exploration and development of its flagship Mount Peake ironvanadium project.

ERA’s wet season woes Northern Territory uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia suspended processing operations from late January, with the break expected to last 12 weeks. The company said this was a precautionary measure to help ensure that levels in the tailings

The Mining Advocate

storage facility remained below the authorised operating limit throughout the remainder of the wet season. ERA recorded a net profit after tax of $47 million in 2010, down from a record of $273 million in 2009.

Invictus Gold kicks off Invictus Gold has started field work on its Drummond Basin gold projects in northern central Queensland, following the company’s successful listing on the ASX after an oversubscribed Initial Public Offer (IPO). The Drummond Basin contains three of Invictus’ five projects prospective for world-class deposits of gold, gold-silver, goldcopper, molybdenum and tin.

Twin Hills restart on track Alcyone Resources says it is fully funded to complete the redevelopment of the Twin Hills silver mine in southeast Queensland following a successful $16.7 million capital raising. Alycone planned to commence re-irrigation of the existing heaps during March.

Iron portfolio grows Eastern Iron has signed a purchase agreement with RMM Capital for the Eulogie iron project, 23km south of Mount Morgan in central Queensland.

Eastern Iron said Eulogie was a great addition to the company’s growing portfolio of quality iron ore prospects in central Queensland, where it is also exploring magnetite iron projects at Hawkwood and Auburn.

“Further resource drilling and metallurgical studies to be carried out in 2011 will assist Eastern in assessing the potential to develop a large-scale iron export operation in an area already well serviced by existing infrastructure,” the company said.

Contact RUSSELL HOCKINGS www.hastingsdeering.com.au

INDUSTRY UPDATE COAL AND GAS

The Mining Advocate | March 2011

Significant project status JFE Steel and QCoal’s proposed Byerwen coal mine outside Collinsville has been declared a significant project.

Queensland Treasurer Andrew Fraser said the $1.5 billion project was expected to produce up to 10 million tonnes per annum of high-quality, metallurgical coking coal over a lifespan of 50 years.

“Up to 500 jobs could be created during construction and up to 1000 jobs at its full operational stage,” he said.

Construction of the open-cut mine and underground mine could commence as early as 2012 following state and federal approvals.

Ellensfield moves forward Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) has been commissioned to conduct feasibility study work for the above-ground and underground infrastructure for Vale’s Ellensfield coal project in the Moranbah region.The project involves the development of a greenfield underground longwall coal mine, producing coking coal and thermal coal for export.

Vale is aiming for a 2015 start-up for the mining operation and has allocated $47 million towards advancing the project this year.

Poitrel contract extended BHP Mitsui Coal (BMC) has awarded Leighton Contractors a three-year contract extension worth about $225 million to continue mining services at the Poitrel mine, 35km south-east of Moranbah. Leighton Mining general manager Greg Fokes said the company had been working with BMC at Poitrel since 2006, providing a range of services including project management, surface mining, engineering and maintenance.

Leighton Mining currently employs about 220 people at the mine.

$145m plant expansion A Thiess-Sedgman joint venture has been awarded a $145 million contract to expand the coal handling and preparation plant at the Lake Vermont mine near Dysart in central Queensland. The contract is to design, procure, construct and commission an expansion of the plant on behalf of Lake Vermont Resources to boost production by up to 4 million tonnes per annum.

The project is expected to generate up to 200 new jobs at its peak. Work is due to begin in July.

Thiess-Sedgman designed and constructed the original Lake Vermont coal handling and preparation plant, commissioned in March 2009.

Scoping studies released Endocoal has announced the results of scoping studies for its Orion Downs coal projects, Inderi and Meteor Downs South, located near Xstrata’s Rolleston operation in the south-west of the Bowen Basin. The company said Meteor Downs South was anticipated to be an open-cut, truck-and-shovel operation and Inderi to be an underground, bordand-pillar operation.

The operations, to be developed at a cost of $65 million, would have a combined production of 2.5 million tonnes per annum. The Endocoal Board has approved the commencement of prefeasibility studies for the projects.

Carmichael milestone The Adani Group’s $10 billion Carmichael coal and rail project has taken another step forward with the release of draft terms of reference.

The document is available for review at a number of locations, with public submissions open until March 28.

The Adani Group is proposing to establish rail facilities and coal mines, about 100km north of Emerald, capable of producing 60 million tonnes of coal per annum.

Thiess wins gas contract Thiess has won a $136 million contract with QGC for early works projects near Miles and Chinchilla in the Surat Basin.

Thiess will install field compressor stations, HDPE (high-density polyethylene) gathering pipelines, intermediate pressure gas trunklines, water storage ponds and complete site preparation for additional compressor stations. The work, part of QGC’s coal seam gas to liquefied natural gas project, is due for completion in March 2012.

Moorlands maiden resource Blackwood Coal has announced a maiden resource of 27.3 million tonnes, calculated in accordance with the JORC code, for its Moorlands project west of Clermont. The inferred resource has been estimated from the geological desktop compilation of results from past drilling, including exploration conducted predominantly by CRA and the Geological Survey of Queensland.

The coal is a high-volatile bituminous thermal coal.

Blackwood - a Sydney-based private Australian company - plans to conduct a 12 to 15-hole exploration program with the aim of corroborating or augmenting the resource base, and moving a portion of the inferred resources into indicated status.

Cougar fights UCG closure Cougar Energy is challenging the Queensland Government’s decision to halt the company’s underground coal gasification (UCG) activities at Kingaroy.

The company has lodged a submission with the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) setting out grounds as to why the proposed orders should not be made.

“Cougar Energy believes that DERM’s proposed amendment to the existing environmental authority is flawed and invalid, and relies on incorrect and flawed statements of the Queensland Government’s Independent Scientific Panel,” Cougar Energy chairman Malcolm McAully said.

“It must be remembered that Cougar Energy’s Kingaroy project has never presented any danger to human health, drinking water, livestock nor farming activities in the region.”

The Government in January announced that it would not allow the suspended UCG trial at Kingaroy to recommence as Cougar Energy could not demonstrate that it could do so without an unacceptable risk of causing environmental harm.

DERM director general John Bradley said the agency was not satisfied with two of the three reports the company was directed to provide after contaminants resulting from the underground gasification process were detected in groundwater monitoring bores on the Cougar site.

Meanwhile DERM has issued amended environmental authorities to Carbon Energy allowing that company to restart its UCG trial at Kogan in the Surat Basin following investigations into an unauthorised discharge of process water.

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BETWEEN SHIFTS

March 2011 |

Darwin Mining Club luncheon

The Mining Advocate

PHOTOS: Christopher Knight

Novotel Atrium, Darwin

Owen Pike and Michael Pike (from MMC) with Alan Green and Joshua Blake (both from IS Australia).

Angela Collard (Tourism NT), Digby Fingers (Specialised Metal Fabrication) and Linda Young (Darwin Co-ordinators).

Simon Lance (Hays), Brian Gallaugher (Macmahon), Beccy Partridge (Hays) and Corey Impelmans (Delta Electrics).

Tamara Grothues (Austwide Mining), Richard McKenna (Coffey), Marcia Kelly (Skills DMC) and Rosemary Waghorne (Minerals Council Australia).

Kirsty Champion and Naomi Gearon (Clayton Utz).

Tim Walsh (Delta Electrics), Adrian McLay (ThincProjects) and Bill Kmon (GHD).

‘Cairns meets Mount Isa’ networking event

PHOTOS: Roslyn Budd

RedEarth Boutique Hotel, Mount Isa

Tiahni Desatge, Peter Gogsch (O’Regan & Partners) and Ariana Desatge.

June Baker (Star Trophies) with Rene and Deryck Thompson (Engineering Excellence).

Ross Thinee (Desert Knowledge), Kay Strong (AusIndustry, Townsville) and Rod Murray (Enterprise Connect, Cairns).

Jennifer Welk (Mount Isa Airport) with Steve Jones (Skytrans).

Capt Peter Vesely (Defence Reserve Support), Antonia Moore (AMM Security Solutions, Cairns), Ian Button (Independent Aviation, Cairns) and Natalie Siipola (IPA Personnel, Mount Isa).

Jeremy Murphy (CKS Mining Services) with Trish O’Callaghan (Mount Isa Chamber of Commerce).

BETWEEN SHIFTS

The Mining Advocate | March 2011

Mackay Area Industry Network (MAIN) breakfast

11

PHOTOS: Damien Carty

Ocean International Hotel, Mackay

Roger Martin (Aggreko), Margaret Clegg (Haynes Mechanical) and George Martin (Think).

Greg Murphy (Best Tractor Parts) and Peter Van Iersel (Enterprise Connect).

Bill Hopton (CTMP) with Lisa Milne and Colin Fairall (both from Bureau Veritas ITA).

Dean Kirkwood (Mining Logic Solutions), Lizzy Dodo (Enterprise Connect) and Andrew Duck (Brown and Bird Accountants).

Narelle Pearse (MAIN) and Allan Ruming (Group Engineering).

Karen McNally (Enterprise Whitsundays), Murray Gibbs, (Chandler Macleod) and Kaylene Ascough (Enterprise Whitsundays).

WIMARQ International Women’s Day lunch

PHOTOS: Stewart McLean

Watermark Townsville

Julie Hilder (MMG Century Mine) and Sharon Dawson (Dawsons Engineering).

Tania Strixner-Harvey and Rachel Leitch (Queensland Nickel).

Abby Jensen, Esther Bank and Kelly Stokes (all Townsville Water).

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Education 2011 feature

The Mining Advocate | March 2011

13

Begin a career at school One of the difficulties many mining industry families face is giving their children access to a quality education.

Whether seeking a larger range of opportunities than local schools can offer, consistency in curriculum or just to broaden their horizons, many mining families turn to boarding school.

As one of Queensland’s largest boarding schools, St Joseph’s Nudgee College in Brisbane has a diverse student body with students from a wide variety of backgrounds, locations and socio-economic levels.

Principal Daryl Hanly said a holistic approach to education, diverse curriculum and modern classrooms that featured the latest in education technology allowed students to develop as a whole person and guaranteed they could follow a variety of pathways.

Many students will start their careers while still at school as a result of the college’s awardwinning vocational education program. Construction of a regional Trade Training Centre at Nudgee College will further add to the offering.

Year 11 boarders from Clayfield College - making friends for life.

Mr Hanly said the college had been recognised nationally for its Vocational Education and Training (VET) program and its students were often sought out by industry leaders. “These new facilities will allow Nudgee College to offer a further 60 students the opportunity to gain their Certificate I in Construction and/or Engineering,� he said.

A construction student at Nudgee College.

Sense of community at ClayďŹ eld Parents often face the difficult decision of whether to send their daughter to a local school or to a boarding school.

Unfortunately, this decision can be marred by the traditional perception of boarding houses being mere lodging facilities with unwelcoming environments.

The Clayfield College Boarding House has been laying to rest such perceptions for many years.

The Clayfield College Boarding House, located in the inner northern suburbs of Brisbane, has a longstanding reputation of providing a safe, caring and

supportive environment for girls as they embark upon their schooling.

With a maximum of 124 girls and more than 20 experienced staff committed to their welfare, the girls quickly acquire an extended family within their home away from home.

What makes the boarding experience so special at Clayfield is the “the overwhelming sense of community,� according to Clayfield College principal Brian Savins.

New boarders join an orientation program designed to

make their transition as seamless as possible.

A warm and comfortable living space is also created for the girls, with the boarding house accommodation set within beautiful, heritage-listed buildings.

Quality home-style cooked meals are prepared for the girls every day by the professional chefs on staff.

Parents seeking further information should direct any enquiries to director of marketing and enrolments Ross Thomson on (07) 3262 0220.

Earth science enthrals at Brisbane Grammar Brisbane Grammar School has a long tradition of studying the earth sciences, with geology introduced into the curriculum as early as 1879.

One hundred years later, the school offered earth science as a dedicated subject and it remains one of the few still to do so.

Regular field trips bring earth science to life, with a bi-

annual excursion to Hawaii a highlight.

On a recent visit, lava had appeared in the crater of Kilauea Volcano for the first time in 40 years and students spent an evening watching (at a safe distance) the lava flow down a hillside and into the ocean.

There was more action at the Pacific Tsunami Warning

Centre where a lecture on plate tectonics was interrupted when a possible tsunamogenic earthquake occurred in the Aleutian Islands.

Students were escorted to the control room where the earthquake was “processed�

- a 5.6 on the Richter Scale – but fortunately no tsunami warning had to be issued.

With experiences such as

this on offer, it is no surprise the subject grows in popularity each year.

Brisbane Grammar students consistently rank among the top earth science students in the state, with 2009 graduate Hawkin Hwang receiving the Gold Medal from the Geological Society of Australia (Queensland Division), having achieved the highest

VHA level in earth science in Queensland. Hawkin accepted a scholarship to the University of Toronto to study a Bachelor of Science.

More than 95 per cent of grammar students proceed to tertiary education, many taking up a career in the science and engineering fields, studying throughout Australia and overseas.

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14

NQ MINING – EXPO SPECIAL

March 2011 |

The Mining Advocate

Keen expo interest as region lifts All eyes are on north-west Queensland in 2011 thanks to a raft of mine expansions, restarts and new projects in the pipeline.

Stepped up activity throughout the North West Minerals Province has led to keen interest in booth space at the 2011 Xstrata Mount Isa Mining Expo.

Mount Isa Chamber of Commerce manager Patricia O’Callaghan said strong demand for expo space had seen organisers reconfigure the floor plan to increase booth numbers from 168 to almost 200.

“At the moment the country has its eyes on the activity out here,” she said.

“There have been a number of significant company announcements and businesses in the industry feel that if they want to get their name out there and promote their organisation 2011 is the year to do it.”

A new half-day conference on the expo program had also drawn a good response, she said.

Ms O’Callaghan said the fact the chamber had been able to secure financial commentator Michael Pascoe to MC and facilitate the event had helped raise its profile.

Speakers will include representatives from Legend International Holdings, Xstrata Copper, Xstrata Zinc and MMG. The interest in the conference, which evolved from the popular

NQ Rescue chief executive officer Alex Dorr and crewman Ash Milroy.

Photo: Roslyn Budd

Joy flights herald new Isa helicopter venture Patricia O’Callaghan Mount Isa Chamber of Commerce manager

Mining the Carpentaria breakfast, left no doubt that it would grow to become a full-day event in 2012, Ms O’Callaghan said.

The Mining the Carpentaria Conference will be held at the Mount Isa Civic Centre on April 4 to kick off expo week activities.

The 2011 Mount Isa Mining Expo will be held from April 5 to 7, with the trade exhibition located at Buchanan Park and associated networking events at various city venues.

The Xstrata Mount Isa Mining Expo is hitting new heights this year thanks to the arrival of Australian helicopter company Heliwest in the region.

Expo visitors will be offered a special deal on joy flights in the company’s Bell LongRanger craft, which has been based in Mount Isa since midFebruary under an arrangement that guarantees the local NQ Rescue service access to the helicopter.

NQ Rescue chief executive officer Alex Dorr said mining companies had started using the Heliwest craft for site visits and he expected business to increase as more operations resumed their exploration programs following the wet season.

Mr Dorr – who is also local base manager for Heliwest - planned to use the expo to promote the service, including its tourism potential in terms of running joy flights around the Mount Isa district.

The helicopter was recently involved in a rescue locating a vehicle which had become bogged during a trip to Doomadgee, stranding a man who required dialysis.

Mr Dorr said an intensive care paramedic had joined the flight due to concerns about the man’s condition.

The helicopter team located the man with his son and flew to Century mine, where the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) was able to use the airstrip and transfer the sick man to Townsville for treatment.

“It showed how well the helicopter service links in with the RFDS,” Mr Dorr said.

“We were able to go up and get them out of an area inaccessible by road and get them back to the nearest airstrip, where the RFDS could come straight in.”

NQ Rescue is awaiting the outcome of a Queensland Health review that will determine if it will receive State Government support to offer a fully fledged aero-medical and search and rescue service for the region.

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15

NQ MINING – EXPO SPECIAL

NQ hard rock mining special As the North gears up for this year’s Xstrata Mount Isa Mining Expo, The Mining Advocate presents an overview of significant operations and projects throughout the region.

This special feature relates directly to the North Queensland resources map produced as an insert to this edition.

Significant mining and processing operations Balcooma mine – this underground mine is the primary source of copper production for Kagara in North Queensland, with ore processed at the Mount Garnet copper plant. It also produces zinc and lead.

Kagara also produces base metals from the Mount Garnet and Mungana underground mines as well as the newly opened Vomacka open pit.With three treatment plants in operation, the company is targeting zinc production of 41,000 tonnes of concentrate and copper production of 23,000 tonnes in the 2010/11 financial year.

Black Star mine – Xstrata Zinc last year approved a $133 million expansion of the Black Star open-cut mine to extend its life to 2016. This is expected to add about 14 million tonnes of ore to the production profile at a rate of up to 4.6 million tonnes per year.

Cannington mine - BHP Billiton is investigating a multimillion-dollar project to extend the life of this north-west Queensland silver-zinc-lead mine beyond 2019. It has released an environmental impact statement for the project, which would involve a mix of underground and open-cut operations.

Cape Flattery sand mining - Cape Flattery Silica Mines, wholly owned by Mitsubishi Corporation, is the world’s largest silica sand producer.

Century mine - operated by MMG, a member of the Minmetals Resources group of companies, Century is Australia’s largest open-pit zinc mine, producing some 500,000 tonnes of zinc annually. The lower Gulf operation is expected to close around 2015.

Collingwood tin mine – owners Metals X placed this far north Queensland mine on care and maintenance in 2008. The asset, including a crushing and processing plant, is available for sale.

Dry River South – this polymetallic underground mine, owned by Kagara, remains on care and maintenance.

Great Australia mine - CopperChem purchased this site in 2009 and has upgraded processing facilities with works including installation of a concentrator.

(See story Page 17)

Eloise mine – this underground coppergold mine, owned by FMR Investments, is returning to production after a period of care and maintenance. Contractors Barminco began work at the site, about 70km south-east of Cloncurry, in December.

Handlebar Hill – Xstrata Zinc operates Handlebar Hill outside Mount Isa as a swing mine with the Black Star open cut, sharing fleet and personnel to support production throughput in the Mount Isa zinc-lead concentrator.

Ernest Henry mine – A $589 million project is under way to extend the life of mine at this Xstrata Copper operation to 2024 through the transformation of openpit mining to underground mining and magnetite processing. (See story Page 16) George Fisher mine – Construction is under way in a $274 million expansion project at this Xstrata Zinc mine to increase production by 30 per cent from 2013. New $35 million crushing facilities are also under construction.

Imperial mine (Charters Towers Gold Project) – operator Citigold Corporation has recently opened up multiple ore headings in the Sons of Freedom cross reef in addition to continued mining on the Warrior reef within the Imperial mining area (formerly known as Warrior Mine).

Lady Annie mine – CST Minerals, the Australian arm of CST Mining Group, restarted mining at this site north of Mount Isa last year. Copper cathode production, which resumed in November, is expected to ramp up to a rate of 30,000 tonnes per annum by late 2011 or early 2012.

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NQ MINING – EXPO SPECIAL

March 2011 |

$79m plant online

The Mining Advocate

(From top to bottom) Concentrator manager Matt

Commissioning has begun at Xstrata Copper’s new $79 million magnetite plant at Ernest Henry Mining (EHM), outside Cloncurry.

The EHM orebody is an iron oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) deposit and the operation produced 74,595 tonnes of copper in concentrate and 91,259oz of gold in concentrate in 2010. While magnetite has traditionally been discarded as tailings, the construction of the new extraction plant alongside EHM’s copper-gold concentrator allows it to be captured and sold as a by-product.

The magnetite extraction plant is comprised of five main circuits including a rougher magnetic separator circuit, primary cyclone cluster, regrind mill circuit, cleaner magnetic separator circuit and dewatering circuit. The final product is a premium grade iron ore concentrate containing about 90-98 per cent magnetite.

EHM general manager Myles Johnston said magnetite processing was an important part of a $589 million extension project which would extend the life of the EHM operation to at least 2024. “The transformation of open-pit mining operations to a major shaft underground mine is on budget, with the shaft scheduled to be commissioned in the first quarter of 2013,� he said.

Magee, magnetite project manager John Twomey, Xstrata Copper chief executive officer Charlie Sartain, Xstrata Copper North Queensland chief operating officer Steve de Kruijff, Ernest Henry Mining general manager Myles Johnston and refinery, port and logistics general manager Mark Roberts inspect the cleaner magnetic separators in the new plant.

Significant mining and processing operations - continued Leichhardt copper operations – Cape Lambert Resources aims to sell or spin off this asset, purchased after former owner Matrix Metals went into administration.

It includes the Mt Cuthbert processing plant and Mt Watson open-pit mine.

Mount Garnet mine – zinc and copper ore from this underground operation is processed at Kagara’s adjacent Mount Garnet treatment facilities.

late last year and owner Aditya Birla expects to gain State approval by midApril to start full mining operations.

Mount Isa acid plant - Incitec Pivot produces about one million tonnes of sulphuric acid each year for use in the manufacture of ammonium phosphate fertilisers.

Mount Isa Mines copper operations Xstrata Copper’s Mount Isa operations include two underground copper mines - Enterprise and X41 - from which 6.2 million tonnes of ore is mined per annum. The operations include on-site concentrator and smelter facilities.

Mt Gordon mine – this underground copper mine and concentrator plant, 130km north of Mount Isa, is returning to production after being placed on care and maintenance in 2009. Contractor Barminco has been working on site since

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Pajingo mine – Conquest Mining gained 100 per cent ownership of this gold operation through its recent acquisition of North Queensland Metals and Heemskirk Consolidated. It is looking at strategies to lift production from an annual rate of around 50,000-55,000oz.

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Mungana polymetallic mine – this underground mine produces zinc, lead, copper and gold, with the ore processed at Kagara’s Mount Garnet treatment facilities.

remaining to reach the Kulthor ore body, when the project was abandoned in February 2009. Ore from that deposit, the Osborne underground mines and their extensions are likely to provide the initial feed for the restarted concentrator.

Ivanhoe Australia is also examining the possibility of sourcing additional ore from the Starra 276 and Starra 222 deposits and the existing Osborne open pit.

Mt Moss magnetite mine – Mt Moss Mining, owned by Curtain Bros, began lump iron exports in 2010 and expects to ship 500,000 tonnes in 2011.

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17

NQ MINING – EXPO SPECIAL

Processing boost CopperChem is set to commission a new concentrator in March/April, giving its Cloncurry operation the capacity to process about 600,000 tonnes of copper sulphide ores annually. Bringing that plant online will cap off a multimillion-dollar expansion program for CopperChem, a privately owned Australian company which purchased the Great Australia Mine site in June 2009.

The operation already treats oxide ores to produce a distinctive blue copper sulphate crystal for use in mineral processing, agriculture and timber treatment. Managing director Stephen Wolfe said CopperChem had upgraded that aspect of its processing operations in the first half of 2010, doubling plant capacity.

Completion of the new grinding mill and froth flotation concentrator in 2011 would allow CopperChem to substantially increase its output. “It will allow us to treat probably two or three times the ore quantities we are currently treating,� Mr Wolfe said.

The new circuit will produce about 30,000 tonnes of copper concentrate per annum for export. Mr Wolfe said CopperChem was increasing its Cloncurry workforce from about 30 to 50 to operate the new plant.

Mr Wolfe said the established resources and reserves at the Great Australia Mine, about 2km south of Cloncurry, would support operations for a further seven years. The company is confident continuing exploration close to the mine will further extend the operation’s life.

Erection of the flotation plant roof at the CopperChem site outside Cloncurry.

Significant mining and processing operations - continued Phosphate Hill - Incitec Pivot mines phosphate rock at its Phosphate Hill operation, where the company manufactures about 975,000 tonnes per annum of ammonium phosphate fertilisers (MAP and DAP).

Queensland Nickel refinery – purchased by mining magnate Clive Palmer from BHP Billiton in 2009, this plant produces about 30,000 tonnes of nickel and 2000 tonnes of cobalt annually for export.

Ravenswood gold operations – Resolute Mining is assessing a $72 million plan to expand the Sarsfield open pit, to be mined in conjunction with ongoing production from Mt Wright.

Sun Metals refinery – this Korea Zinc-owned refinery outside Townsville produces about 210,000 tonnes of zinc ingot annually and 410,000 tonnes of sulphuric acid. The operation has recently diversified its output to include exports of zinc ferrite and other mineral byproducts from the refining process.

Townsville copper refinery – Owned

by Xstrata Copper, this electrorefining plant has the capacity to produce 300,000 tonnes of copper cathode per annum.

Twin Hills mine – new owner Conquest Mining has approved trial mining at this former BMA Gold operation as a satellite feed source for its Pajingo processing plant. First ore is due to be

mining areas, increasing life of mine by about 40 years. The project involves a staged increase in capacity up to a possible 50 million dry product tonnes per annum. Construction could start in 2012, depending on regulatory and internal approvals.

delivered by mid-2011. The capital cost of the redevelopment will be about $6 million.

Vomacka mine – Kagara began production from this open-pit mine in October last year and expects to produce 20,000 tonnes of zinc concentrate from this source in 2011/12. The ore is processed at Kagara’s Thalanga polymetallic plant.

Weipa bauxite operations - Rio Tinto Alcan is conducting a feasibility study to extend its Weipa bauxite operations in an area south of the Embley River. The $1.5 billion South of Embley project would progressively replace depleted bauxite reserves at the East Weipa and Andoom

Wolfram Camp mine – majority owner Planet Metals (previously Queensland Ores) is reconsidering the future of this tungsten-molybdenum project west of Cairns against a background of strong tungsten prices after Hazelwood Resources advised it would not proceed with a purchase deal. The site includes a 150,000 tonnes-per-annum processing plant under care and maintenance.

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18

NQ MINING – EXPO SPECIAL

March 2011 |

The Mining Advocate

Advanced mineral projects Agate Creek project – majority stakeholder Renison Consolidated Mines is continuing to increase the resource base for this proposed gold mining operation.

The capital cost of developing the project is expected to be around $60 million.

Cape York Mineral Sands project – Metallica Minerals subsidiary Oresome Australia is carrying out environmental impact statement, bankable feasibility and metallurgical development test work this year for this rutile-zircon project.

Aurukun bauxite and east coast refinery project - Chalco Australia last year allowed its $2.5 billion development deal with the Queensland Government to lapse due to adverse conditions in the aluminium sector. This project would involve the development of a new bauxite mine at Aurukun on Cape York and an alumina refinery, which was proposed to be based at Abbot Point outside Bowen.

City Mine (Charters Towers Gold Project) – Citigold Corporation is seeking a joint venture partner to help re-establish a “super mine” complex in this historic gold hub, with an expected development cost of more than $70 million.

Baal Gammon – this advanced coppertin project was subject to a recent sale agreement between Conquest Mining and Monto Minerals, along with related Herberton tin tenements.

Bauxite Hills project - Cape Alumina has shifted its focus to developing this bauxite project after a Wild Rivers declaration brought its Pisolite Hills proposal to a standstill. Scouting exploration results confirmed a highgrade bauxite discovery and drilling work is planned throughout 2011.

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Cloncurry copper project – Exco Resources is completing a definitive feasibility study with the aim of taking a three million-tonnes-per-annum operation into production by 2012.

Dugald River project – This new zinclead-silver mine proposed by MMG (part of the Minmetals Resources group of companies) is expected to cost $700 million to develop. The feasibility study is complete and an environmantal impact statement was released in early 2011.

Einasleigh project - Copper Strike has completed a feasibility study for the joint development of copper and zinc-lead deposits within this project, at an expected cost of $122 million, and aims to obtain a mining lease this year. The company recently announced a financing deal with two Chinese groups to fund the bankable feasibility study and development of the Einasleigh deposits.

Elaine/Mt Dorothy prospects - China Yunnan Copper and its joint venture partner Goldsearch are continuing drilling on these north-west Queensland rare earth, copper and cobalt prospects after recently reporting a significant heavy rare earth element and yttrium intercept at Mt Dorothy.

Hodgkinson Basin gold projects – Republic Gold is considering options to farm-out or divest its assets in this area, which include the Northcote and Tregoora projects, in order to focus on its flagship project at Amayapampa, Bolivia.

Kalman South – joint venture partners Syndicated Metals and Cerro Resources (formerly named Kings Minerals) hold

this advanced molybdenum-rheniumcopper-gold project.

the present understanding of resource potential, Icon Resources said.

Korella deposit – Krucible Metals has applied for a mining lease after a positive scoping study into a potential high-grade rock phosphate operation to be developed at a cost of about $45 million.

Mt Carlton project – owner Conquest Mining has approved development of this new gold-silver-copper operation, south-east of Charters Towers, with first production expected in 2012. Capital costs are expected to reach $126.9 million.

Lady Loretta – Xstrata Zinc recently acquired sole ownership of this project, about 140km north-north-west of Mount Isa, by purchasing the remaining 25 per cent interest held by Cape Lambert Resources for $30 million. Cape Lambert gained its joint venture interest in the lead-silver-zinc project as part of its acquisition of CopperCo assets in June 2009. Lady Loretta’s resource has been estimated at 13.6 million tonnes with 17 per cent zinc and 6 per cent lead.

Liontown, Waterloo, Orient and West 45 deposits - Kagara expects to mine these deposits in the Charters Towers region from 2012 to feed its polymetallic concentrator nearby at Thalanga once the Vomacka site has been depleted.

Lucky Break – Joint venture partners Metallica Minerals and Metals Finance aim to start commissioning in the second quarter of 2012 for this North Queensland nickel laterite project.

The mining and heap leach processing operation is expected to cost about $12.5 million to bring online.

Merlin project – Ivanhoe Australia expects to begin mining in late 2011 at this molybdenum and rhenium project, which includes the Little Wizard deposit.

With a capital cost around $200 million, the project includes construction of a flotation plant and roaster at the nearby Osborne mine site.

Mount Carbine project – Icon Resources expects to begin construction of a tailings processing plant mid-year at the Mount Carbine tungsten project in far north Queensland. The company said recent test results supported Icon’s concept of a staged development of Mount Carbine beginning with the re-treatment of tailings, followed by the processing of low-grade stockpiles and the resumption of mining at the site. The project life would extend beyond 15 years based on

Mt Dore copper and polymetallic project – Ivanhoe Australia has studies under way for a potential heap leach SX/ EW (solvent extraction-electrowinning) operation at this site.

Mt Elliott/SWAN – Ivanhoe Australia has a scoping study under way to evaluate an underground and open-pit mining operation at this copper-gold project, with potential to process ore at its Osborne complex.

Mount Garnet project – Consolidated Tin Mines has started feasibility studies for the establishment of a new tin operation, with an expected development cost of about $124 million. The company’s Mount Garnet project area includes the Gillian, Pinnacles and Windermere tin projects.

Mt Oxide project – Perilya expects to make a development decision on this former copper operation, north-west of Mount Isa, in the second quarter of 2011.

Mt Remarkable/Barbara project – Syndicated Metals achieved a substantial resource upgrade for this project in 2010. Preliminary pit optimisation and scoping study work is under way for the development of a copper mining and processing operation.

Mungana and Red Dome gold projects – Mungana Gold Mines, a Kagara subsidiary, is targeting a resource capable of sustaining an operation producing 150,000oz of gold and 15,000 tonnes of copper annually in the Chillagoe region.

More than $130 million worth of mine infrastructure and underground access has already been developed at Mungana.

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19The Mining Advocate | March 2011 Advanced mineral projects - continued Mt Freda and Mt Norma gold projects Queensland Mining Corporation intends to develop these projects by way of joint venture or by spinning the asset out as a new company. The site includes a large amount of infrastructure from earlier mining operations.

NORNICO polymetallic project – Metallica Minerals hopes to begin production in late 2013 at this nickelcobalt-scandium project north-west of Townsville. Stage 1 is to be a tri-metal mining and processing operation, currently costed at $132 million, based around mining of the Greenvale-Lucknow deposits.

Paradise phosphate project - Legend International Holdings aims to start production in 2013 from this project, expected to cost more than $800 million to develop over five years. The project involves multiple phosphate rock mining sites and a Mount Isa-based fertiliser manufacturing complex. The company has been investigating an expanded production scenario, which would see the complex churning out around 1.2 million tonnes of diammonium and monoammonium phosphate (DAP/MAP) annually.

Pisolite Hills project - Cape Alumina believes this proposed $500 million bauxite mine and port development on western Cape York is no longer economically viable due to the impact of the Wenlock Wild River Declaration.

Rocklands copper project - CuDeco aims to begin production from this site

19

NQ MINING – EXPO SPECIAL

outside Cloncurry from late 2012 and expects to mine about three million tonnes of copper-gold-cobalt ore annually.

Roseby copper project – Altona Mining (formerly Universal Resources) is revisiting the Roseby definitive feasibility study published in 2009. It aims to increase the Roseby resource beyond one million tonnes of contained copper and double the proposed mine’s production target to 40,000 tonnes per annum.

Skardon River bauxite project – Gulf Alumina aims to begin mining at its Skardon River project in 2012, with an expected output of 1.5 million tonnes of bauxite annually.

Starra Line project – Ivanhoe Australia is examining the potential to process ore from this string of abandoned copper-gold mines, particularly Starra 276 and Starra 222, at its Osborne complex.

Valhalla/Skal uranium project – Paladin Energy and its majority-owned subsidiary Summit Resources are continuing work to build resources at this advanced uranium exploration project. Valhalla and Skal are the major deposits within a regional cluster of tenements holding more than 128 million pounds of uranium oxide.

These include the Odin, Bikini, Watta and Anderson uranium deposits within the associated Mount Isa North uranium project as well as uranium prospects within the Valhalla North uranium project, which Paladin Energy acquired when it took over Fusion Resources in 2009.

Watershed tungsten project – Soaring tungsten prices have sparked renewed interest in this proposed mine, expected to cost about $70 million to develop. Vital Metals is revisiting its 2009 prefeasibility study for the project.

Westmoreland (Lagoon Creek) uranium project – Laramide Resources is continuing environmental baseline studies for this uranium project following positive scoping study results. The proposed mine development, with a capital cost of more than $200 million, has been stymied by Queensland Government policy against uranium mining.

White Range copper project – Queensland Mining Corporation is working to advance this project, formerly held by Matrix Metals. It includes the Greenmount, Mt McCabe, Vulcan, Mt McNamara and Hampden mining leases.

Woolgar gold project - Strategic Minerals plans extensive drilling in 2011 (focusing on the historic Mowbray mining area) following successful drilling programs in 2009 and 2010 to build on its gold resource base at this project north of Richmond. The company hopes to move into a feasibility study later this year for a potential open-pit mining operation if that drilling and subsequent modelling prove positive.

Young Australian copper project Queensland Mining Corporation is involved in joint venture and financing negotiation for the development of this project, which includes Kuridala mining leases.

North West Minerals Province energy options The Sims Review, jointly commissioned by the State Government and the Queensland Resources Council (QRC), in 2009 recommended a competitive process for proponents to bid to provide a longterm energy solution for the Mount Isa region. The north-west’s major miners are still weighing up the relative merits of three major proposals. The equation is complicated by uncertainty over how potential funding from the Federal Government will come into play.

APA Group power station – APA is proposing development of a new 240MW gas-fired power station to supply Mount Isa customers. The company owns and operates the Carpentaria Gas Pipeline.

It also operates a 30MW plant supplying power to Xstrata.

CopperString project – CuString and Leighton Contractors plan to give major energy users in the north-west access to the national electricity grid by constructing a transmission line from Woodstock to Cloncurry. The $1.5 billion project would also provide opportunities for renewable energy ventures along the transmission line.

Mica Creek Power Station upgrade - CS Energy proposes a $150-$200 million upgrade to its existing gas-fired plant in Mount Isa. The project would involve retiring four of the power station’s 10 generating units and replacing them with 120MW of high-efficiency, combinedcycle gas generation plant.

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20

Townsville Regional Capacity

March 2011 |

The Mining Advocate

Still on top for technology A Townsville team is behind a world-first robotic cathode stripping machine that is about to make its mine-site debut.

Thirty years after the birth of the breakthrough Isa Process, Xstrata Technology engineers in North Queensland are continuing to make advances in copper refining technology.

A robotic cathode stripping machine developed by the Townsville team has attracted keen interest from delegates at copper industry conferences overseas, according to Xstrata Technology development technician Tony Ruddell.

The first commercial production model is due to be delivered to the CST Minerals Lady Annie operation in northwest Queensland in April, while a second order is pending from a site in Europe.

“The machine is a world first,” Mr Ruddell said.

“It is our latest development - extending the concepts and

designs of Xstrata Technology’s robotic handling system that was first introduced into South Korea in 2005.”

While the concept and design is Xstrata Technology’s, the robots are “off the shelf ” items from Fanuc Japan.

The newly developed machine uses two 600kg payload robots with patented end-of-arm tooling for cathode plate handling and stripping.

The model being delivered to the Lady Annie operation has a capacity of 150 cathode plates per hour. A prototype remains on site at the Townsville copper refinery for trials and display.

Mr Ruddell said the machine was developed in response to client demand for a “smarter” cathode stripping system that required less maintenance.

It would increase throughput,

The robotic stripping station in the manufacturing workshop in Japan during final testing before shipment.

improve safety and enhance product quality by removing the risk of damage through manual handling.

Xstrata Technology Townsville is the home of the Isa Process, first developed at the local copper refinery in the late 1970s.

“This revolutionary process eliminated the need for ‘copper starter sheets’ and over the ensuing years has come to dominate the world of electrorefining and electro-winning,” Mr Ruddell said.

“Importantly, the technology enabled relatively small tonnage projects like Lady Annie to produce refined copper economically on site.”

Xstrata Technology combined the Isa and Kidd process technologies in 2006 and now has 100 plants under licence around the world, accounting for about 60 per cent of global refined copper.

More than 1.6 million stainless steel cathode plates required for the technology have been manufactured and exported out of Townsville, generating more than $750 million in income, since the technology was commercialised.

New event has broad resource industry focus A Townsville-based conference organiser aims to deliver what she believes is a long-overdue local event with broad appeal across the minerals and energy sector.

The inaugural North Queensland Mining, Processing and Energy Conference will be held at the Rydges Southbank Convention Centre on May 9-10.

Elizabeth Hanson, who kicked off her Australian Professional Conferences and Seminars (APCS) business in Townsville late last year, said the May conference was already attracting wide interest and was destined to become an annual event.

“This is the first conference of its kind in Townsville and is the key event targeting some of the major industries that are critical to Townsville’s economy,” she said.

Elizabeth Hanson Australian Professional Conferences and Seminars conference manager

Ms Hanson said she had focused on the resources industry for her first major event as many of her professional contacts had made it clear they were fed up

with having to travel to Brisbane or interstate for such conferences.

“Also, because only bigger companies could afford to send multiple staff to these conferences, a lot of regional people were missing out on development opportunities,” she said.

Townsville already hosts the annual Queensland Mining Industry Health and Safety Conference, and Ms Hanson said there were other industry forums, often involving one major company and its preferred partners.

She wanted to run a forum that was broad enough to draw a range of major companies and key industry leaders, she said.

The theme for the 2011 conference is “Future Economic Challenges for the Mining,

Processing and Energy Industries”. Confirmed speakers include leaders from Queensland Nickel, Sun Metals,

Portal for project updates Townsville Enterprise has launched a Heavy Industry Portal for businesses seeking information on projects under way or about to start in North Queensland.

Developed with the support of the Queensland Government, the portal will feature opportunities for local suppliers to access tenders, funding and grants opportunities or training to further develop their business capabilities.

Townsville Enterprise general manager of economic development Ross Contarino said a key feature of the portal was the ability for businesses to create a listing in a local supplier directory.

The portal can be accessed by visiting http://townsvilleenterprise.com.au and following the links from the “Invest in NQ” tab.

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The Mining Advocate | March 2011

21

Mine offers shelter in the storm An Incitec Pivot initiative helped workers’ families stay together and out of harm’s way during the threat of a category-five cyclone.

Phosphate Hill became a safe haven of sorts as Cyclone Yasi bore down on the Queensland coast recently, with employees’ families invited to the remote north-western mining site.

The Incitec Pivot-owned operation hosted 47 family members who chose to join a skeleton crew of about 40 operations personnel and 40 camp support staff on site rather than remain in Townsville.

The scale of the cyclone and the safe location of the phosphate facility had prompted the offer, Incitec Pivot (IPL) vice-president – north Australia manufacturing, Gerrish Burstow, said.

“The thing that struck me during preparations for the cyclone is that we wanted to allow people to go back from site to be with their families, but that meant people were heading back into the cyclone zone. That’s how the concept came about,” he said.

Mr Burstow said the company had ensured those on site were well looked after.

“There was plenty to do. We had our leisure officer there to organise activities for the kids,” he said.

“It was like a Big4 caravan park but with all food laid on as well.”

Townsville resident Amber Turnbull spent four nights in the Monument accommodation village along with her three children - including then sixweek-old baby Gemma – and mother Barbara, who was visiting from New South Wales.

She had felt it would be safer out at the Phosphate Hill site with husband Mark, a process technician, than sitting out the cyclone at home, she said.

“The kids loved it – they didn’t want to come home. They had a ball,” she said.

The Turnbull family’s Annandale home escaped damage in the storm, although a fence and some trees were knocked down.

Mr Burstow said the operation would make the same offer in future crises.

“It was highly regarded by our staff. There was a real family component to it as well,” he said.

The company also tasked a small team of employees with checking absent workers’ homes before and after the cyclone crossed the coast and with assisting partners who had been left home alone, he said.

“After the cyclone we tried to contact all employees and for those we couldn’t contact we got

Amber and Mark Turnbull with children Gemma, aged 2 months, Ben, 11, and Leah, 2, outside their Annandale home.

The family stayed at the Phosphate Hill operation, where Mark works, during Cyclone Yasi.

Photo: Stewart McLean

them to go to their homes to ensure they were okay,” he said.

He was not aware of anyone suffering serious injuries as a

result of Cyclone Yasi, although many had experienced some damage to their homes.

By the time Yasi reached

Phosphate Hill and Mount Isa, where IPL has a sulphuric acid plant, it had weakened to become a tropical rain depression.

Coal production lagging Recent coal export figures show the Queensland industry is operating at around two-thirds of its capacity compared with a year ago.

Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche said that in February 2011 Queensland exported about 8 million tonnes of coal compared with 12 million tonnes for February last year.

“This is only one month’s worth of exports, but the numbers are consistent with company reports and the QRC’s own estimates of a 30 milliontonne downturn in coal production in 2010/11 caused by wet season floods,” Mr Roche said.

The QRC predicts a minimum impact of $5 billion in lost production due to the extreme and prolonged wet season. Its high-impact estimate is a production downtown of 53 million tonnes, with $9 billion in lost production.

“You would be hard-pressed to find more than 15 per cent of (coal) mines in full production,” Mr Roche said in early March.

“Most mines are dealing with the impact of

water and we still have four mines with no rail service.”

They included three mines affected by flood damage to the line around Toowoomba and Xstrata’s Rolleston operation, which suffered severe damage to a rail spur.

However Mr Roche said the biggest hurdle to recovery was the inability of coal mines by dent of regulation and other factors to rid themselves of large build-ups of water trapped in dams and pits. The coal seam gas industry had been relatively unscathed compared to coal, with the greatest enduring problem being disruption to drilling programs, Mr Roche said.

Meanwhile, a senior resources lawyer says the recent wet season battering of key Australian energy and mining operations should trigger a complete rethink on force majeure provisions.

Minter Ellison Lawyers senior associate Stephanie Rowland said the widespread enactments of such provisions had catapulted force majeure issues to a “top of mind” consideration.

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PROCESSING

March 2011 |

New era for refinery A key North Queensland processing operation enters 2011 with a change of leadership and a fresh product line, writes Belinda Humphries.

The Sun Metals refinery outside Townsville has begun exporting zinc ferrite and other process by-products in a diversification initiative expected to earn an extra $60 million per year.

The Korea Zinc-owned operation has also ordered a 7.6 megawatt steam turbine generator which will see it producing its own power in 2012 and will install a second reverse osmosis plant this year to further reduce the site’s reliance on town water supplies.

Newly appointed chief executive officer Young-Min Park said maximising by-product value while cutting water and power costs at the zinc refinery would be a key focus in 2011.

The zinc ferrite cake the plant

is now exporting is a form of intermediate process material generated in the refining process.

The substance, which has previously gone into tailings, is now being recovered and exported to Korea Zinc’s Onsan refinery, where Top Submerged Lance (TSL) technology is used to treat it.

Mr Park said Korea Zinc had initially planned to conduct such treatment at Townsville.

However studies had proved this option would not be economically viable due to the construction and operational costs involved.

The refinery exported about 140,000 tonnes of zinc ferrite, copper cake, cadmium and lead/ silver cake in 2010. Sun Metals

Sun Metals chief executive officer Young-Min Park with a stockpile of zinc ferrite cake.

Photo: Stewart McLean

plans to export about 210,000 tonnes of zinc ferrite and 6000 tonnes of copper/cadmium cake and nickel/cobalt cake this year.

Mr Park said work was continuing to fine tune aspects of plant design, particularly in the drying and transportation process, to suit these lines.

The Sun Metals refinery will continue to produce about 210,000 tonnes of zinc ingot

CuDeco reveals process plans CuDeco has contracted Chinese corporation Sinosteel to supply all of the process plant components and structures for its $200 million Rocklands copper project near Cloncurry.

Announcing the deal recently, CuDeco said it had completed a four-year metallurgical test work program and was now entering the final design phase.

CuDeco aims to begin production at Rocklands from late 2012 and expects to produce about 130,000 tonnes of copper concentrate with gold credits and 180,000 tonnes of cobalt/pyrite concentrates annually.

The fully automated process plant on order will

have a capacity of three million tonnes of ore per year. It will include circuits for native copper metal recovery and flotation circuits for the supergene and primary sulphide zones.

The native copper circuit includes High Pressure Grinding Rolls (HPGR) technology to enable clean separation of the gangue material from the native copper.

To achieve the clean separation required, a jig from German company, allmineral, is used following the HPGR and wet screening.

CuDeco is continuing negotiations with various groups in relation to off-take agreements for the Rocklands concentrates.

annually and 410,000 tonnes of sulphuric acid.

Electricity is a major input cost for the plant, which uses about 2500 megawatts per day, resulting in an annual power bill of about $50 million.

This will be reduced with

The Mining Advocate

the installation of the new $7 million turbine, which will supply about 10 per cent of the plant’s electricity needs from next year by harnessing the power of gas generated in the refining process.

Mr Park said installation of a second reverse osmosis plant at the site, at a cost of $1.6 million, was expected to reduce the plant’s use of town water from 2000 kilolitres a day to about 500 kilolitres a day.

Water supply and the relatively high cost of electricity, in the absence of a major base-load plant in Townsville, have been key constraints to the planned expansion of the plant, which Mr Park describes as being a long-term rather than mediumterm goal at this stage.

Another major factor is the availability of zinc concentrate for treatment, with a worldwide shortage driving up prices, according to Sun Metals sales and logistics manager Paul Ryan.

Mr Park, who took over in January from retiring Sun Metals chief executive Sang Bum Lee, said his management approach was very much focused on “strengthening and improving our operation through our people”.

Exploration venture to secure further feedstock Sun Metals has launched an exploration joint venture with Korean company Cores in a bid to discover new feed sources in the face of a global shortfall in zinc concentrate.

Sun Metals sales and logistics manager Paul Ryan said the partners were beginning a $5 million five-year drilling program in the Boulia area in a bid to secure a new source of zinc for processing.

“It makes sense for smelters to have vertical integration, to have their own source of supply - that way you are not reliant on other parties,” Mr Ryan said.

Half of the Sun Metals plant’s feedstock is imported – about 200,000 tonnes of zinc concentrate per year.

The bulk of its Australian-sourced zinc concentrate is drawn from BHP Billiton Cannington, MMG Century and Golden Grove, Xstrata Zinc and Kagara’s North Queensland operations.

DRILLING AND EXPLORATION

The Mining Advocate | March 2011

23

NT attracts record investment A significant increase in the greenfields component of the exploration spend is just part of the good news from the Top End.

Mines and Energy

The Northern Territory is attracting record levels of mineral exploration expenditure, sparking high hopes of a fresh round of discoveries.

Over a five-year run of growth, the Territory has seen exploration spending setting new records annually, culminating in an investment of almost $150 million in 2009-10 despite the prolonged wet season.

That run looks set to continue, with exploration spending exceeding $55.8 million in the first quarter of this financial year – easily beating previous quarterly results, according to Northern Territory Geological Survey director Ian Scrimgeour.

“The fact that the first quarter

Geological Survey

was a new record suggests we’re on track for another good year,” Dr Scrimgeour said.

“Importantly, a lot of junior explorers are finding it easier to raise capital and are planning very large explorations programs for 2011. We’re very excited about the upcoming potential for major new greenfields exploration projects over the next year.”

The greenfields component of the exploration spend in the Top End has risen over the past five years from around 30 per cent to 60 per cent. This boded well for the chances of major new discoveries, Dr Scrimgeour said.

He believed the boost in NT exploration investment from resource companies, including

Minister Kon Vatskalis with Northern Territory director Ian Scrimgeour.

during the GFC (Global Financial Crisis), was due in part to the Territory Government’s

Bringing Forward Discovery initiative.This was delivering an increasing amount of new

AGES 2011 boasts bumper program A key Northern Territory exploration forum has been expanded this year to showcase new deep crustal seismic data and interpretation from the southern Georgina Basin and eastern Arunta Region.

The 12th Annual Geoscience Exploration Seminar (AGES) will be held from March 21 at the Alice Springs Convention Centre.

The technical program has been stretched to two full days to include a workshop centred on recent interpretation from a deep seismic survey section completed in 2009, according to Northern Territory Geological Survey (NTGS) assistant director, regional prospectivity Dorothy Close.

“It’s our first opportunity to image the deep crust of central Australia and it transects the Georgina Basin and Arunta Region – so it’s showing some of the major crustal-scale structures that we’re interpreting to understand the geology and

some of the mineral systems,” she said.

The 370km vibroseis seismic section was undertaken as part of Geoscience Australia’s Onshore Energy Initiative, with the NTGS also providing funding.

Ms Close said the AGES 2011 program on the afternoon of March 23 would be dedicated to a special workshop featuring six presentations on that seismic line.

“The major take-home message is that there are large-scale structural controls tapping the deep crust that can assist with understanding mineral systems and can be targeted for exploration,” she said.

A joint NTGS-CSIRO project over the Ngalia Basin, about 200km north-west of Alice Springs, will be another major focus at AGES 2011.

“The project was designed to look at the architecture of the Bigryli (uranium/ vanadium) deposit and project that into

geoscience information in underexplored areas in addition to co-funding selected drilling and geophysics programs in greenfields areas, he said.

Investment had been particularly strong in areas prospective for gold, copper and uranium, with strong interest also for iron ore, rare earths and phosphate, Dr Scrimgeour said.

The Rover field, about 70km south-west of Tennant Creek, had been a leading hub for exploration efforts, he said.

He believed there was a potential for a “snowball” effect in terms of new mineral discoveries encouraging increased interest and investment from further explorers.

In a global market, Dr Scrimgeour said it was important to highlight the fact that the Territory was not a mature exploration destination.

“There are still plenty of opportunities for new discoveries and we need to highlight those opportunities,” he said.

a basin-scale regional study of potential mineral systems throughout the Ngalia Basin,” Ms Close said.

Ms Close said the seminar would include a presentation on the Territory’s new HyLogger scanner, including the information that could be derived from spectral analysis of drill core.

The NTGS will also present new findings and understandings of the geological framework in the south-eastern Arunta Region, which Ms Close said would change the way people viewed the prospectivity for copper-gold systems in the area.

Other program highlights include the latest information on Rum Jungle Resources’ phosphate and potash discoveries in central Australia and Territory Uranium’s Quantum rare earths and uranium discovery beneath the Daly Basin.

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24

MAINTENANCE

March 2011 |

The Mining Advocate

Fresh approach to project work A consortia business model is proposed to assist smaller central Queensland suppliers in cracking the mining market, writes Belinda Humphries.

Group Engineering in Mackay is driving an initiative to help small to medium enterprises work together to secure mine maintenance and project work at a time when coal companies are increasingly cutting back their supplier lists.

The proposed consortia business model will allow the smaller firms to seek project work under the umbrella of a mining industry-approved single entity with established safety standards and operating procedures.

Group managing director Allan Ruming said the initiative would target turn-key project work up to $2 million initially with a focus on maintenance and process improvement work.

The development follows work the Mackay Area Industry Network (MAIN) carried out last year with the help of industry clusters expert Rodin Genoff.

Mr Ruming was hoping to begin introductions to potential clients within the month to gauge response to the idea.

Mr Ruming said small to medium-sized operations were finding it increasingly difficult to win work from major mining companies, who were paring down their supplier databases.

The big miners were opting for larger suppliers who could provide all the services required themselves or subcontract features of the work, he said.

Allan Ruming Group Engineering managing director

By decreasing the number of suppliers they had to deal with directly, these companies were reducing the management effort for issues such as ensuring those who performed work for them met requirements such as safety standards. Simplifying the supply chain in this way was also expected to bring cost benefits, Mr Ruming said. However, he said there were many smaller operators throughout the Mackay region with very worthwhile talents and services to offer. The consortia model he is developing will bring together a number of businesses with synergies and some areas of competition, which

should translate into increased capacity and capability.

Group Engineering provides expertise in project concept, design, management, commissioning and supervision.

“What we can add to that is a small experienced team that can get to a site and deliver the project in terms of engineering, construction and project management,” Mr Ruming said.

It was hoped that the business consortia would eventually gain preferred supplier status with various companies for small to medium projects, he said.

“Ultimately we should be able to keep a number of smaller companies engaged that would otherwise go off and work as subcontractors all over the place or disappear entirely because they’re not winning the sort of work they want,” Mr Ruming said.

“It’s just another way of doing business as we see it.”

While the initiative was still in its infancy, he believed it would be assisted by the increasing demands on a limited skills pool.

“We see the consortia model we’re putting together as having a lot of application outside the resources industry as well,” Mr Ruming said.

“The consortia model will allow us to be more effective and efficient than a straight subcontractor model because there are other drivers and benefits to the participants such as cost reduction, risk management and sharing as well as the ability to attract skilled staff via our personal networks and contacts.”

Hand rails installed on light vehicles are providing a safe work platform.

Suggestion system pays off for Xstrata Xstrata Zinc’s Mount Isa operations have recently benefited from their continuous improvement focus and consultative management style.

Over the past 12 months employees have been invited to submit improvement suggestions under the Xstrata Zinc’s Innova system – with many of the ideas adopted by the company and put into practice.

Innova is an incentive program designed to encourage employees to participate in continuous improvement by sharing their ideas on improving safety and productivity.

Employees are encouraged to put forward proposals which will reduce expenditure, improve safety or increase operational efficiency.

The system is credited with contributing to a 7 per cent reduction in the total recordable injury frequency rate last year and a 23 per cent drop in the operations’ lost-time injury frequency rate.

Xstrata Zinc Australia chief operating officer Brian Hearne

said also the introduction of quarterly meetings with all supervisors, superintendents, managers and general managers had been effective in keeping the focus on team-based action to ensure the safety of all employees and contractors remained the operation’s highest priority.

At the last safety leaders’ meeting, Black Star opencut mine manager Bryant Schwengler provided an overview of the innovative solutions put forward through the Innova suggestion system.

One of the most effective suggestions was for the installation of hand rails for the back of light vehicles.

The suggestion has now been implemented, resulting in the creation of a safe work platform.

Employees can make suggestions online, in person, in writing or via a voicemail box at the George Fisher Mine.

Xstrata Zinc donates 2 Euros per suggestion considered to the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, whether the suggestion is adopted or not.

Australia

SHUTDOWNS

The Mining Advocate | March 2011

25

Team primed for a ‘lean shut’ An ammonia plant maintenance outage will help test the progress of a broader program of improvement at a major processing site.

The reliability team at Incitec Pivot’s Phosphate Hill site in north-west Queensland is working to enhance shutdown planning as part of a wider “road map to improvement” in its maintenance systems.

The company carries out a combined maintenance shutdown every three years across its Phosphate Hill and Mount Isa sites.

However there are also three or four smaller shutdowns annually to work on various plants within the Phosphate Hill fertiliser manufacturing complex, 160km south of Mount Isa. The team’s current shutdown project is a “mini-shut” scheduled to run from March 28 to April 7 for the ammonia plant.

Reliability manager for Incitec Pivot’s Phosphate Hill

operations, Tony Puglisi, said a major focus of the improvement process was ensuring only “must do” jobs were included in order to minimise the time any plant was offline.

“This is an important shut for the site from an operational, production and maintenance point of view,” he said.

“There has been a lot of planning taking place over the last six months to get us in a position to run a lean shut, with only critical maintenance jobs planned.

“The scope of work is now locked, with the electrical and mechanical work pack development and review coming to a close.”

Mr Puglisi said Paul Laurent, the gas fertiliser production manager at Phosphate Hill, and his team had been the driving

Incitec Pivot’s ammonia plant (on left) at the Phosphate Hill site.

force in setting up the shut.

Preparations included work packs covering instructions, task hazard analysis, parts required and any other resources needed,

such as access to a crane.

“The guys have been working on those for quite some time,” Mr Puglisi said.

“The aim is to do it at a high

quality and then there will be some quality assurance work as well.

“We want to make sure that when we do a job we do it properly the first time.”

The majority of the shut work would be conducted

by Phosphate Hill’s own maintenance and electrical teams, he said.

They would be drawing on a number of external resources for critical jobs.

These would include fitters, riggers, welding inspectors, electricians, machinists and pipe fitters from companies including UGL, IXT Inspections, RCR Stelform and BLJ In-Situ Solutions.

Mr Puglisi said the site was bringing in eight crane operators and riggers from North West Crane Hire with an additional 50-tonne slew crane and a Franna crane.

Sun Metals set for September maintenance stoppage The Sun Metals zinc refinery outside Townsville will conduct its roasting, gas cleaning and sulphuric acid plant shutdown in September.

Planning for the 2011 maintenance shutdown began in October 2010 immediately after the last one - and talks with contractors were likely to begin around May, Sun Metals sales and logistics manager Paul Ryan said.

“We bring in a number of local contractors to assist with the work so we complete it on time in the most efficient manner,” he said.

The operation called on the services of a core group of tried and tested businesses that were very familiar with the plant, he said.

The annual maintenance outages at the Korea Zinc-owned operation last for two or three weeks. No major change-outs or upgrades are due to occur during the 2011 shutdown, due to the plant’s current focus on accelerating its exports of zinc ferrite.

Suppliers wishing to be considered for Sun Metals work should contact admin@ sunmetals.com.au or phone (07) 4726 6666 and ask for projects.

The Sun Metals roasting, gas cleaning and sulphuric acid plants are due for shutdown work in September .

Photo: Stewart Mclean

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26

LIVING REMOTELY

March 2011 |

The Mining Advocate

Bringing FIFO families together Generating face-to-face contact is an important element of a new website encouraging networking and support.

A Perth mother aims to help resource industry families facing the challenges of lengthy separations to meet others in the same boat through a new online forum.

Nicole Ashby’s website for fly in–fly out (FIFO) and drive in-drive out (DIDO) families in the mining and energy sectors has already attracted about 140 members, with at least 20 per cent based in Queensland.

The online contact between members has generated a number of social events, including regular get-togethers in a Perth park, since the FIFO Families website was launched late last year.

“The aim was for FIFO and DIDO families to be able to come online and connect in a virtual sense,” Mrs Ashby said.

“Also, what is really important

for me is that families can connect in a physical way.

“We have a search function (on the website), so when you become a registered member you can type in your postcode or suburb and it will list other members in your area.”

She plans to visit Brisbane at least twice this year to help “get things moving” in Queensland including encouraging the formation of local support networks and seeking sponsorship for the site.

Mrs Ashby said she was familiar with another website aimed at providing information for FIFO families, Mining Family Matters, and had been speaking with its creator Alicia Ranford so they could assist each other.

Mrs Ranford, who launched her website in 2010, said the

Joe and Nicole Ashby with children Angelina, Tana and Chase.

two services complemented each other well.

Mrs Ashby had created a fantastic resource to help families get together and create support networks, she said.

Mrs Ashby has three children under six years old and husband Joe’s job on an oil rig involves

shifts of four weeks on and four weeks off.

She said she had found it quite challenging to cope with the effects of the FIFO roster on family life at times.

While she has had other close friends to call on when the going gets tough, Mrs Ashby

believes other FIFO partners have a unique understanding of the issues involved and it would be of great benefit if they could form local networks to support each other.

“I really want to get the word out there, right across Australia,” she said.

“It doesn’t matter where you are – whether remote or in a city – this is for everyone.”

Mrs Ashby, whose professional background is in social work and teaching, said she had gained the inspiration and confidence to launch the site after a course with mentor Paul Counsel.

Her ideas for the future development of the website included providing “webinars” (live online information sessions) on issues such as isolation and loneliness, resentment and trust.

She is planning to introduce a membership fee to help support the venture financially.

• The FIFO Families website is at www.fifofamilies.com

New guide contains hot topics and top tips The creators of an online resource for mining families are launching a “survival guide”, bringing together the most sought-after information and advice in a printed form.

Mining Families Matters website founder Alicia Ranford said The Survival Guide for Mining Families would be available to mining companies from early March.

“We have already been taking pre-orders,” she said.

“We are offering it to mining

in mining, “she said.

While individuals would be able to order the guide, Mrs Ranford said she would encourage people to approach the human resources department at their mine site and urge them to contact Mining Family Matters about the guide.

“The copies are provided at minimal cost,” she said.

“We want to provide this information to as many mining families across Australia as we can.”

companies for them to use as an induction tool for new employees and also to assist existing employees and their families.”

Mrs Ranford said the 32-page booklet featured professional advice from a registered psychologist and practical tips for keeping relationships healthy and families happy.

“Topics include house rules for happy homes, sex and FIFO relationships, mining dads and parenting, relocating, the art of making new friends and women

She said she had received good sponsorship from industries supporting mining.

“I think people can now recognise that this information is really valuable to the industry,” Mrs Ranford said.

“Our aim is to try to create some more stability in family life in the mining industry.”

The Mining Family Matters website, at www.miningfm. com.au , has received more than 30,000 visits since it was launched a year ago.

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SAFETY AND RESCUE

The Mining Advocate | March 2011

27

An app for that New technology is aimed to make it easier for businesses to comply with legal requirements for hazardous materials recordkeeping.

A North Queensland safety consultant has developed an iPad and iPhone application set to save many hours of paperwork for worksites with chemical stores.

CSM Safety Services managing director Craig Stewart, in association with Eternity Technologies, has developed “cim Touch” - an application that helps business operators prepare and

manage their workplace hazardous materials registers.

“We find, when we audit facilities, that chemical registers are not maintained because it’s a daunting task for many people to go out and identify your chemicals, identify their characteristics, how much you’re storing, how often you use it and to establish a register,” Mr Stewart said.

Key contest dates Assessors are meeting in March to plan for this year’s major Queensland coal industry rescue events, to be hosted at Oaky North and Cook Colliery.

Queensland Mines Rescue Service operations manager Lindsay Creighton said the QMRS Memorial Cup would be held on July 7 at the Oaky North mine near Tieri.

It is open to Queensland mines rescue teams that did not compete at a national level in 2010.

The top four teams from that event will go on to pit their skills again the four teams that reached a national level last year in the EK Healy Cup competition.

That event will be held at the Cook Colliery, south of Blackwater, on September 1.

The Australian Underground Mines Rescue Competition will this year be hosted in Wollongong, New South Wales, on October 14.

Legislation change All workers on Queensland mine sites will be required to work under the relevant site’s safety management plan following changes to legislation passed in Parliament recently.

Previously, contractors were able to work under their own safety management plans.

“The changes have been made as a result of coroners’ findings and industry feedback

that there were a number of safety management plans being followed in some instances,” Queensland Mining Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said.

“This means contractors who are carrying out jobs like road works or building works on mine sites will be required to follow the same safety management plan as everyone else.”

Mr Stewart said the cim Touch system had evolved from an automated computer spreadsheet he developed for his own use when auditing workplaces.

The Townsville-based businessman took the concept further with help from his daughter’s partner, software engineer Devraj Mukherjee from Eternity Technologies in New South Wales.

Using an iPad to carry out audits as part of his safety service was saving him many desk-bound days of data manipulation and report writing, Mr Stewart said.

“I can walk around a site, take photos and put notes against the photos and at the end of the day run script and it writes the audit report for me,” he said “Instead of having days and days of data manipulation, I can do it on the fly.”

The new application uses an open-source database, giving users access to the extensive chemical identification and analysis information Mr Stewart has built up over the years. It features prompts to guide users through positive chemical identification.

Mr Stewart said it was a requirement of occupational health and safety laws across Australia that businesses maintain a register of any chemicals in the workplace that may be classed as hazardous

CSM Safety Services managing director Craig Stewart has developed an iPhone/iPad app for managing chemical inventories. Photo: Stewart McLean

substances or dangerous goods.

This must be kept up to date to accurately reflect the chemical inventory.

However, Mr Stewart said

many workplaces had either never established a chemical register or failed to maintain their register, making it non-compliant under safety regulations.

Mackay hosts coal industry safety forum The date has been set for the first Bowen Basin Safety Conference, organised by the Mackay Area Industry Network (MAIN).

The July event has been designed specifically for local companies supplying the region’s coal operations, according to MAIN Workplace Health and Safety Group co-chair Laurie Willett.

Mr Willett said the event would include a mock court session where a real case involving a safety

breach would be re-enacted to highlight the need to make occupational health and safety a business priority.

Fatigue management would also be a major focus of the conference as it was a pressing safety issue in the Bowen Basin, he said.

The conference, titled “Safety at the Coalface”, will be held at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre on July 20.

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MATERIALS HANDLING

March 2011 |

The Mining Advocate

Xstrata expands bulk storage Works to prepare for a new export line from Cloncurry’s Ernest Henry Mining operation have been hailed as a project milestone.

An $8.6 million storage expansion project to accommodate export of magnetite concentrate at the Port of Townsville is nearing completion.

Xstrata is extending its bulk storage facility adjacent to Berth 7 to handle 1.2 million tonnes per annum of magnetite concentrate from its Ernest Henry Mining (EHM) operation near Cloncurry.

The first shipment of magnetite concentrate is scheduled in the first half of 2011.

General manager for Xstrata Copper’s Townsville operations, Mark Roberts, said the bulk

storage upgrade was expected to be completed in March.

“The completion of this storage expansion represents another successful milestone in Xstrata becoming Queensland’s first exporter of magnetite concentrate,” Mr Roberts said.

“The magnetite project is a key component of the $589 million project to transform EHM into a major underground coppergold operation and this storage expansion is a critical link in the logistics chain for the product.

“Once the works are completed, the receival, storage and shipping

QAL initiative to reduce dust during alumina loading The Gladstone-based QAL operation is continuing initiatives to reduce fugitive emissions from its alumina loading process after successful dust-control modifications on a cascade chute at the wharf late last year.

The modifications included placing the shrouded area under a light vacuum and altering the speed reducer, which is now fixed and non-retractable to maintain a steady load out into the ship hold.

Raw materials special projects supervisor Russ Hendry said the chute modifications had been successful in reducing dust from the cascade loading.

QAL now plans to work on the alumina loader’s boom to reduce fugitive dust when the chute is being raised from the hull.

Xstrata Copper Port of Townsville superintendent John Cordingly at the new facility.

Photo: Port of Townsville Limited

of magnetite concentrate will generate 14 additional operator and maintenance roles at our port operations and another two positions within our shipping and sales administration team.”

Magnetite - a form of iron ore is being captured and processed as a by-product of EHM’s copper-

gold concentrating process.

“The magnetite concentrate produced at EHM will be chiefly used to fuel Asia’s steel industry, however the commodity will also be utilised as a washing agent in domestic coal operations,” Mr Roberts said.

Port of Townsville Limited

chief executive officer Barry Holden said the Xstrata development linked with Port of Townsville Limited’s multimillion-dollar upgrade of Berth 8.

Scheduled to begin in October 2011, this project will involve the relocation of Berth 7 operations to an upgraded Berth 8, with Xstrata to invest in a new shiploader and conveyors on the refurbished berth.

The existing Berth 6/7 pier, which is at the end of its serviceable life, will be decommissioned, demolished, and the site remediated once Berth 8 is operational, expected by the end of 2012.

“A refurbished Berth 8 will provide best practice facilities for new commodities like Xstrata’s magnetite concentrate while ensuring the export future of mineral concentrates and fertiliser product valued at more than $1 billion a year to the Queensland economy,” Mr Holden said.

Coal terminal plan advances

A crane lifts the modified chute to transport to the wharf and install.

The North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) has engaged consultants Aurecon Hatch to prepare a master plan to further expand the Port of Hay Point, about 40km south of Mackay.

The corporation last year endorsed DBCT Management and the Adani Group as the preferred proponents for the development of the proposed new coal export infrastructure at Dudgeon Point, where it holds about 1400ha of land.

State Ports Minister Craig Wallace said it was likely that the Port of Hay Point would need to at least double in export capacity within the next five to 10 years to meet coal industry demands.

The port already has two coal terminals - Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal and the Hay Point Services Coal Terminal – with a combined design capacity of about 130 million tonnes per annum.

Mr Wallace said the port development master plan was targeted for release to the public in the second half of 2011.

It would detail the proposed location and size of coal stockpiles, wharves, roads, rail and other site infrastructure required to support the project, he said.

NQBP has awarded the contract for the site and project environmental investigations to consultants WorleyParsons.

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The Mining Advocate | March 2011

Education attuned to industry Key courses at this regional university are designed or customised to suit the lifestyles, locations and aspirations of mining personnel.

CQUniversity is building on its successful program of degrees tailored to the mining industry with a proposed post-graduate qualification in management.

Pathways facilitator Lyn Forbes-Smith said the university was working closely with a major mining company to develop a graduate certificate in management with a mining specialisation. The course, expected to be introduced this year, was a direct response to industry demand, she said.

In the face of serious skills shortages, mining companies realised they had to build capacity within their existing ranks and

become employers of choice to retain talent.

Ms Forbes-Smith said interested people would not necessarily need a degree to join the program as work experience and history would help gain entry, along with employer support of the application.

The university was looking at customising the way the course was delivered, as well as its content, to suit mining industry personnel.

“Part of the proposal we’re working on will include mine site lectures,” Ms Forbes-Smith said The university - which has campuses at Mackay,

CQU adds local professional development opportunities CQUniversity’s Pathways Project has launched a Queensland Centre for Professional Development with a focus on the mining and engineering industries.

Pathways facilitator Lyn Forbes-Smith said the initiative meant the university would be able to provide first-class professional development opportunities in regional centres to better meet the needs of central Queensland industries.

The centre kicked off in February with a presentation in Mackay from Engineering Education Australia general manager Ann Ellis about the Engineering Education Australia Engineering Capability Development Model.

CQUniversity Pathways facilitator Lyn Forbes-Smith.

Photo: Damien Carty

Rockhampton, Bundaberg and Gladstone - already offers seven associate degrees in engineering that are tailored to mining industry needs, in addition to Bachelor and post-

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workplace health and safety.

“They have a growing reputation for being very suited to people who work full time,” Ms Forbes-Smith said.

“They can be done in a flex or distance mode, they are a four-year program and they are designed to be workplace relevant.”

Some of the associate degrees had a blend of academic programs and black coal competencies, she said. They were aimed at people who were already working in the mining industry or mining services such as engineering workshops.

“These associate degrees enable people who are technical or have come in through operations or trade qualifications, a pathway into engineering based on the skill sets and broad experience that they already have,” Ms Forbes-Smith said.

She said the qualification allowed people to work as paraprofessional engineers, supporting fully qualified engineers who were required to work at more supervisory levels.

The degrees were developed in partnership with BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance and Anglo American Metallurgical Coal.

Careers kick off at Cannington Eighteen university graduates have commenced employment at BHP Billiton’s Cannington mine – the highest intake in the mine’s 20 year history.

Cannington asset president Bob Fulker said graduate numbers were up on previous years due to the number of high-quality applicants.

“While a number of graduates will be placed into traditional mining roles such as engineering and geology we have also created positions in mine support functions such as finance, laboratory and health,” he said.

Mr Fulker said the group would play a valuable role in the organisation while participating in an award-winning graduate development program.

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Cannington’s Darren Singh (at right) shows new graduates Clinton Elliot and Mitchell Smith around BHP Billiton’s ship loading facility at the Port of Townsville during a familiarisation week.

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HEALTH IN MINING

March 2011 |

The Mining Advocate

Lack of rest a risky business Many people are overlooking “common sense” measures that would help better manage fatigue, an industry health advisor says.

Failure to get adequate rest is putting shiftworkers at risk of a range of chronic diseases as well as creating a danger on the highways, according to CQ Health Access co-ordinator AnnMaree Brightman.

Lack of sleep has been indirectly linked with increased incidence of heart disease and high blood pressure, stomach disorders and gastrointestinal disorders, mental illness and fertility problems.

“So it’s imperative for shift workers to get as close to the average amount of required daily sleep, or rest in bed, as possible,” Ms Brightman said.

A number of factors in the workplace and in an individual’s private life can cause sleep loss.

Ms Brightman said the level of fatigue depended on factors including duration and timing of work and rest periods as well as stress and the monotony of tasks involved with a job.

Many mine employees working extended shifts were sacrificing sleep due to conflicting demands on their time, heightening the danger when they got behind the wheel for highway commutes, she said.

While the issues involved with fatigue were gaining increasing recognition, Ms Brightman said many individuals were still overlooking simple “common sense” measures that could be adopted to manage the problem.

“There are all sorts of little things people can do that can make a big difference and reduce the risk,’” she said.

She warned that while many workers relied on caffeinated

drinks - such as coffee or caffeinated energy drinks - to assist them to manage fatigue, these would contribute to sleep loss if used within six hours before going to bed.

This effect may be increased if combined with medications containing ingredients such as pseudoephedrine hydrochloride.

Shiftworkers as a group tended to get significantly less sleep than those who worked equivalent hours that did not intrude on the typical sleep period (11pm – 7am), Ms Brightman said.

“Sleep during the day is usually of poor quality due to circadian disruptions and environmental factors such as daylight, traffic and household noise,” she said.

Ms Brightman said also the effects of fatigue increased with age.

“People over 50 years of age tend to have lighter, fragmented sleep; which can prevent them from receiving the recuperative effects from a full night of sleep and can make them more likely

CQ Health Access co-ordinator Ann-Maree Brightman

to become fatigued,” she said.

CQ Health Assess – a division of the CQ Nurse nursing agency - provides a range of services for workplaces including health screening, promotion and education.

This includes fatigue education modules that can be completed online or face to face.

Spotlight on air quality The Queensland Mines Inspectorate is stepping up its focus on health issues such as diesel particulate exposure in 2011.

Commissioner for Mine Safety and Health Stewart Bell said a meeting of the diesel particulate steering committee was planned in June following an audit of underground mines in Queensland. Mr Bell said the inspectorate also planned increased monitoring for respirable crystalline silica exposure in the quarrying and mining industries as well as further work on the impact of vibration on the musculoskeletal system.

Those projects will be pursued through the Health Improvement and Awareness Committee – a tripartite group involving the inspectorate, mining unions and companies.

CQ Health Assess tips for managing fatigue Preparing for shiftwork • Have an afternoon nap before the first night shift Personal factors affecting sleep • Drink alcohol in moderation as it can disturb sleep • Avoid caffeine after midnight when on night shift Medical conditions affecting sleep • Seek medical advice on conditions such as sleep apnoea Sleep Environment • Install heavy curtains that keep the light out • Reduce the volume of the telephone and the television and keep them in another room, not the bedroom • Insulate the house and/or have airconditioning on while resting to drown out background noise • Let neighbours and friends know if you are a shiftworker and when you need to sleep so they don’t mow lawns or visit at these times. Hang a sign on your front door “I am a shiftworker and am currently sleeping, please do not disturb” • Get into a routine for going to sleep (take a warm shower or relaxing bath before going to bed, listen to soothing music, for example) • Avoid heavy meals, alcohol and tea or coffee before going to bed • Consider moving out of shift work if you find you are more a “morning” person and cannot get enough sleep when on night shifts Social Life • Plan social activities to ensure sufficient sleep before starting work.

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Building Mining Communities

The Mining Advocate | March 2011

31

Awash with goodwill Fashions on the Field winners Kerry Randall, Morgan Murphy, Katrina Retief and Anne Baker.

Matt Fellows (Education Queensland), Rick Manson (Precise) and Mitch Fegan (BMA Norwich Park).

James Jackson, Natasha Manning and Jack Williamson (all from BMA Peak Downs Mine).

Steve Furber and Neomi Flanagan (SNN Earthworks).

Diane Saroglia (Maritime Mining Power Credit Union) with Lara Watson (CFMEU).

Percy Large (BMA Goonyella Riverside) with wife Stacey and daughters Grace and Yasmin (6 months).

A mining union-run race day at Moranbah has raised more than $30,000 for flood victims across Queensland’s coalfield regions – despite being washed out.

Queensland district organiser for CFMEU Mining and Energy, Lara Watson, said she had been pleasantly surprised by the amount of money raised during the charity event.

Heavy rain forced officials to cancel all five horse races planned for the day, which attracted 400 to 500 people.

However, the crowd showed good support for fundraising raffles and the charity auction.

Ms Watson said the event had been organised at short notice.

“But it was easy enough to put together because of the support of Moranbah and Mackay businesses and the Moranbah Action Group,” she said.

Local traders had been generous in donating services to run and promote the race day as well as goods to be offered as prizes.

In addition to the charity race day, Ms Watson said various CFMEU lodges had organised fundraisers to assist those affected by flooding and Cyclone Yasi.

The union’s actions reflected the fact that many mining communities and members had been affected by the disasters, she said.

Ms Watson said the union hoped to make an annual event of the charity race day, with the potential to rotate the venue between Queensland coalfields communities.

It was likely to raise funds for different charitable causes and community groups each year, she said.

“We (the CFMEU) like supporting the smaller regional communities that tend to miss out on that social infrastructure funding,” Ms Watson said.

“It’s our way of being able to give back to those communities and show them we support them.”

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32

Building Mining Communities

March 2011 |

The Mining Advocate

Mining Supporting Communities

BROUGHT TO YOU BY A map produced in 1861 from the expedition’s journals and diaries (at left) shows Mt Bruce - which overlooks the Phosphate Hill accommodation village at The Monument (as shown in the modern map, at right) – as well as Mt Murray and Mt Merlin.

NQ Cowboys players Dane Hogan and Tariq Sims visit the Julia Creek State School.

Cowboys head out west Cowboys rugby league players Dane Hogan and Tariq Sims visited more than 300 primary school students across north-west Queensland recently to promote the Cowboys in the Classroom program.

North Queensland Cowboys community relations manager Fiona Pelling said the tour was a great opportunity to showcase the program, a joint initiative between BHP Billiton Cannington, Education Queensland and the Cowboys.

It took in primary schools in Mount Isa, Camooweal, Cloncurry, Julia Creek, Dajarra and Boulia over a three-day period.

“Bringing the players out to this area gives them a good understanding of the challenges faced by remote communities and the kids get quite a kick out of it too,” she said.

Established in 2009, the Cowboys in the Classroom program is an online virtual classroom that runs throughout the NRL season.

The website includes live chat with Cowboys players as well as blogs, images and videos.

More than 1500 students in Years 5-7 from schools across central, north and far north Queensland will participate in 2011.

'ERRMRKXSR

Below - The Burke and Wills memorial at the Monument village.

Explorers remembered Employees at Incitec Pivot’s Phosphate Hill mine and fertiliser plant in north-west Queensland have unveiled a

BMA’s ‘buy local’ scheme BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) has launched a new Local Buying Program with a series of information sessions for small business owners in Blackwater, Emerald, Dysart and Moranbah.

The Local Buying Program will provide additional opportunities for small businesses in the townships for the competitive supply of goods and services to BMA and BHP Mitsui Coal (BMC) operations.

BMA president Stephen Dumble said the company had been delighted with attendances and the support the Local Buying Program had received at the information sessions.

As well as providing additional supply opportunities for local businesses, the program seeks to provide further benefits over the longer term by helping to build local capacity.

The information sessions were co-hosted with the Central Highlands Development Corporation, Moranbah Traders Association and Central Highlands and Isaac Regional Councils.

Xstrata funding pledge Xstrata has committed $1.6 million to support eight community partnership projects in North and north-west Queensland from 2011 to 2012.

The pledge brings the combined value of Xstrata Community Partnership Program North Queensland funding to more than $18 million over eight years.

Xstrata Copper North Queensland chief operating officer Steve de Kruijff said the program’s achievements to date demonstrated Xstrata’s belief that local communities should benefit from the company’s operations in the short and long term.

The latest round of funding will

support the “Books in Homes” program across seven schools, the Stride Foundation’s “Sport for Life” project in Mount Isa, a Southern Gulf Catchments project officer, North West Queensland Indigenous Catholic Social Services, the Cloncurry Justice Association’s Night Patrol community intervention project and Perc Tucker Regional Gallery events. It will also support the Delta Society Australia – Townsville Branch and provide funding for laptops and a shade structure at St Mary’s Primary School in Bowen.

memorial marking the 150th anniversary of the Burke and Wills Expedition.

The memorial, at the Monument village, is in the form of a display summarising the expedition’s passage through the area in January 1861.

“We wanted to record how closely the expedition was linked to this particular part of Australia we work in,” said Peter Lynam, a member of the Phosphate Hill Sesquicentenary Committee formed four years ago to commemorate Burke and Wills.

“Also, we thought it was important for people to be reminded of the courage and achievements previous generations made as our country developed.”

The memorial was unveiled

by Burke and Wills Historical Society president Dave Phoenix, of Cairns.

Suppliers tip in for MMG fundraiser MMG Century mine and 17 of its suppliers have donated more than $30,000 to the Queensland section of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

The money was raised as part of Century’s 2010 GM Charity program and presented at a recent ceremony in Cairns.

MMG Century general manager Karl Spaleck said that the RFDS was an obvious organisation for the mine to support as it provided a lifeline in times of illness to many people within Queensland’s Gulf communities.

“At Century, we too have also relied on these services to assist unwell employees and contractors on many occasions since the mine began,” he said.

Mr Spaleck said that he had been humbled by the generosity of the suppliers, employees and contractors who had donated to the cause.

Suppliers Otraco, Atlas Copco, TDC, Chubb Security, ABAC, Paramount Hire, Leibherr, Cummins, BP, Coopers Fluids, Bradken, Hasting Deering,

Atlas Copco Mount Isa regional manager Alf Lawrence (left) accepts a certificate of appreciation from Royal Flying Doctor Service general manager of marketing and fundraising Russell Ousley.

Dawsons Engineering, Driveway Training, Komatsu, CFS and the Shangri-La Hotel contributed $20,500.

“Our employees and contractors also raised almost

resourcing g the e future 'ERRMRKXSR

$4000, with the mine donating an additional $6000,” Mr Spaleck said.

Further funds are expected to be raised through the sale of a commemorative polo shirt.

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