Shift Miner Magazine (August 2019)

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August 2019 Edition 213

A ROBOTIC FUTURE

BHP RAMPS UP ITS 10,000 JOB TRANSITION PLANS

CONSTRUCTION BOOM

Major development projects line up across Bowen, Surat and Galilee Basins

6 DEAD IN 12 MONTHS

Industry reflects on safety crisis

MIXED MESSAGES

Miners back underground but jobs go at North Goonyella

August 2019 1

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CONTENTS NEWS

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Mines inspectorate stretched Inspectorate was not meeting its safety objectives.

The annual performance report for 2017-18 showed coalmine inspectors completed roughly half the targetted coalmine audits and completed 390 of a planned 400 coal mine inspections.

The report said the shortfall was due to a diversion of resources into addressing concerns about methane levels underground, and the ongoing work in dust management following the Black Lung crisis.

“The mines inspectorate has always … prioritised its ­activities toward areas of greatest risk or potential harm to workers,” he told media.

“In the past year, mine health and safety laws have been ­reformed, giving inspectors new powers and increasing fines; funding of $1.68 million has been allocated in the budget for more inspectors.

“In the past 18 months, four companies and individuals have been fined, and one individual has received a custodial sentence, currently being appealed, and in 2017-18, inspectors suspended operations at more than 90 mines and quarries.”

The Department says it is currently advertising for three extra inspectors and an extra chief inspector.

Every miner on every shift across Queensland has undergone an additional safety training session following a snap safety crisis meeting between industry and mines Minister Anthony Lynham late month.

The Department of Mines and Energy Safety Forum followed the deaths of Jack Gerdes, 27 and Mackay father David Routledge which took the 12-month fatality total to six in the mining industry.

One of those in attendance was Sojitz Coal Mining CEO Cameron Vorias who told Shift Miner they, like everyone in the

sector, was resetting their safety processes.

“We had already started the process to reset safety at all of our operations,” he told Shift Miner following the meeting.

“It started on Monday and continues, and It’s not just a oneoff reset either.

“It’s a real tragedy, and we wanted to get on the front foot straight away.

“We’ve put in place the steps to help our workers cope with this challenging time, and we’ve asked all of our workers to commit to what we commit to - a level of safety that brings

1300 apply for female only jobs

Encouraging news for former miners

Management at Anglo American’s Moranbah North mine will decide shortly who - of the more than 1300 applicants - have been selected for its female-only traineeships.

Last year, Anglo received special permission from the Fair Work Commission to target only women in their recruitment advertising.

The idea proved effective with the huge response to the advertising, forcing them to bring short-listed candidates on-site for a training and assessment program, which has occurred over the last six months.

With the final decision to be made soon, CEO of Anglo’s Metallurgical Coal business, Tyler Mitchelson, said it was a unique process.

“This program is the first of its kind for a Queensland underground coal mine, and a critical step toward creating a more inclusive environment for women in underground coal mining,” he said

4 August 2019

More than eighty former coal miners have volunteered themselves for a free Black Lung health assessment in the last three months, and encouragingly, none have come back positive for mine dust lung disease.

A free check-up for former miners is one of the State Governments recently released measures to manage the mine dust health crisis that has rocked the coal industry over the last five years.

Currently, the total number of reported cases of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) or Black Lung since 2014 is 39, while the total number of reported cases of pneumoconiosis (includes CWP and mixed dust pneumoconiosis) is at 77.

When silicosis, asbestosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are added in, there have been 116 reported cases since

everyone home safely to their families.

“It’s about building an ethos around ‘Speak up don’t shut up’, incidents happen because short cuts are taken. It’s that simple.

“It’s not just the coal industry or mining that experiences tragedies, it’s every industry, and we want everybody to think about their family when they think about safety.”

Meanwhile, Mr Lynham has defended the performance of the Queensland Mines Inspectorate after the State Opposition attacked the government over a report which found that the

1984, with the vast majority being reported in the last five years.

A Department of Natural

Resources, Mines and Energy spokesperson told Shift Miner they are working hard to ensure that health professional within Australia can provide the level of service required.

“No new cases have been reported from former worker health assessments,” they said.

“Workers identified with abnormalities in either X-ray or spirometry are progressing through the Department’s clinical pathway.

“More than 8000 X-rays have been dual read by Lungscreen Australia since March 1, 2019, with one case of the disease

identified as a result of an abnormality detected amongst these X-rays.

“The Department has worked hard with Lungscreen, employers, doctors and radiology providers, to ensure results are returned promptly so health assessments are finalised in a timely manner and workers have a clear understanding of their respiratory health.”

The government is encouraging eligible mining and quarry workers to get tested for the free service and says anyone unsure of their eligibility should contact the Health Surveillance Unit’s dedicated team on (07) 3818 5420 or email FormerWorker@dnrme.qld.gov.au Current and former miners who have taken up the initiative are encouraged to spread the word with colleagues, family and friends about the free service.

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BHP expects fewer operators

focused on upskilling and reskilling, training and creating a workforce that can make the most of the opportunities in front of us - now and beyond,” he said “For example, we have partnered with the Queensland Resources Council, TAFE and the State Government to deliver training programs to enhance foundational digital skills. The training will reach hundreds of employees.

“At our sites, where the changing nature of work will perhaps be most significant, we

olu

tion

s

Central Queensland’s biggest mining employer BMA has used a presentation to local business this week to underscore again the workforce transformation they see coming to the coalfields.

BMA Asset President James Palmer told the Bowen Basin Mining Club this week that while it was undeniable that operational driving jobs would disappear the company was doing what it could to train and prepare it’s 10,000 people for new opportunities.

“As a business, we are keenly

have also launched a concerted development program focused on preparing for the roles of the future.

“Through this program, we are creating the environment and providing people with the tools to be prepared for the change, so everyone can take control, make their own decisions and shape their own future.”

Perhaps the most apparent aspect of technological change in mining is the removal of human operators from heavy machinery like haul trucks.

According to Mr Palmer, BHP’s research and experience with driverless trucks in Western Australia, have seen incidents involving them drop by 90%. A recent study has also suggested BHP could add a further 500 autonomous trucks to their opencut operations.

With many of those trucks potentially heading to Queensland, he says today’s operators need to embrace the change.

“We are deeply committed to preparing our workforce for the advent of transformational technology, like autonomous haulage and maximising opportunities,” he said.

“Over time as we progress – yes, let’s be transparent – this will likely mean our business has fewer operators physically on the equipment, but it will mean more controllers, more builders and more technicians.

“It will mean less physical and less routine jobs, but it will mean more dynamic, fulfilling careers.”

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August 2019 5

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HAVE YOU DONE YOUR

YES Great. Don’t forget to leave your anonymous feedback via www.qld.gov.au/safetyreset

NO Talk to your boss, union rep, or peak body to find out when it’s happening on your site.

By the end of August 2019, all Queensland mines and quarries should have held a safety reset session—an opportunity to pause and reflect on safety.

Every worker across every company and every shift should participate.

6 August 2019

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Anglo approves Aquila

The board of Anglo American has approved the $250 million Aquila expansion at the Capcoal underground operations near Middlemount.

According to Anglo, the development of Aquila will extend the life of Capcoal’s operations by six years to 2028, with the new underground mine expected to scale up as the existing Grasstree underground operations scale down.

Seamus French, CEO of Bulk Commodities for Anglo, says the

development will provide jobs into the future for their current Grasstree employees.

“Aquila offers us a high margin six-year life extension to our Grasstree mine, with an average annual saleable production of 3.5 million tonnes (attributable) of premium quality hard coking coal at a real, posttax IRR of more than 30%, and an EBITDA margin of 40% at consensus long term prices,” he said.

“The project benefits from

low capital intensity as we can use the existing infrastructure and systems from our adjacent Grasstree mine that is coming towards the end of its economic life, as well as providing continuity of employment for our workforce.”

Aside from extending their Central Queensland operations, CEO of Anglo’s metallurgical coal business Tyler Mitchelson says the new mine will showcase the latest underground technology available.

“Our Aquila Mine will be developed as one of the most technologically advanced underground mines in the world,” he said.

“We will pursue remote operation of the Aquila longwall, ensuring our people are removed from harm’s way, and the continued digitisation of our operations, using new technologies such as our Australian-first intrinsically safe underground electronic tablets.

“The accelerating pace of technological innovation, particularly in the digitalisation, automation and artificial intelligence areas, is opening up opportunities for the mining sector to be safer, more productive and sustainable.

“As the largest underground coal miner in Australia, we are leveraging the innovative work already underway at our existing mine sites and scaling the development of new technologies in our operations.”

August 2019 7

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Labor wants you living locally

Two operating coal mines, one planned coal project and six other Queensland mining projects are banned from having a 100% fly in fly out (FIFO) workforce following State Government intervention.

The decision follows the Queensland Labor party’s massive political backflip in 2017 when it legislated new rules stopping any large mine near a town having a

100% FIFO workforce.

At that time, the law was primarily designed to reverse the Bligh Labor Government’s own 2011 decision at the height of the mining boom, to allow BHP’s Daunia and Caval Ridge projects to be entirely FIFO. Since 2017 the big recovery in coal mining has meant other operating projects are now in

Adani has reached another important approval milestone, with the signing of an Infrastructure Access Agreement (IAA) with the Isaac Regional Council (IRC) at a special council meeting last month.

IAA’s are a necessary component of any resource development, and this one sets out what infrastructure maintenance and upgrades Adani will be obliged to pay for in return for using IRC infrastructure to develop their Carmichael mine and rail project.

Mayor Anne Baker said while

important; it was just one of many IAA the Council has with mining companies.

“This is a requirement of all major projects and ensures the ratepayers of Isaac region are not directly or indirectly burdened by the cost of improving or maintaining the infrastructure required to develop or operate a resources project,” she said.

“The Infrastructure Access Agreement formalises the obligations of the proponents to fund the upgrade to existing

breach of the FIFO rules, which take effect where a resource project is less than 125 kilometres from town and has more than 100 workers.

State Development Minister Cameron Dick said the declarations would limit the operating Baralaba North Coal mine and Cook Colliery from employing 100% FIFO right now, and the proposed Olive Downs coal project if and when it starts.

“We want to see more regional jobs stay in our regions,” Mr Dick said.

“This decision by the Coordinator-General is great news for every local worker living near these projects.

“Fifty-nine regional communities will benefit from these declarations.

“This is the third update to the Coordinator-General’s published list of large resource projects, with the Act now applying to 69 large resource projects and 295 different nearby regional communities.”

At the time the laws were first created in 2017, there were

serious question marks over there enforceability and discriminatory aspects.

For example, what are the antidiscrimination implications for job ads that stipulate “residential only” or that candidates “must live local”? Further, who decides when a mining company has tried hard enough to recruit locally?

To give protection against the in-built discrimination, the government says there are protections under the antidiscrimination provisions in the Act. The rules are also not retrospective, meaning miners who are currently flying to work will not lose their jobs. They also won’t affect Adani’s plans to fly workers in and out of their proposed Carmichael Coal mine because that mine is roughly 160 kilometres from Clermont.

Other non-coal projects to be affected by the laws are the Barbara Project and Mount Colin Mine near Cloncurry, the Bauxite Hills Mine, the Century Zinc Mine, and the Mungana Mine near Atherton.

infrastructure to an agreed standard, provide required new infrastructure and to equitably fund the maintenance of existing roads impacted by activity created by the project during construction and operation.

“For example, this agreement requires the proponent to carry out works in two stages to improve the Moray- Carmichael Road, which is the primary route to the mine site.

“The first stage will be undertaken immediately, while the sealing of the road and the

substantial upgrading of bridges will be undertaken in agreed timeframes over the next few years.

“If other roads are impacted by the mine and rail project over time, they too will be subject to improvements funded by the proponent.

“While there has been an unprecedented focus on this one development and one company, negotiation and formalisation of these agreements is business as usual for our organisation.”

Adani to upgrade road

8 August 2019

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Contract wide open

Opportunities for contract work on Adani’s proposed Carmicheal coal mine and rail line are wide open, with many of its previously announced “deals” redundant.

Calls by Shift Miner in the wake of the final State Government approvals reveal previously announced and publicised “letters of award” have lived up to their non-binding nature with a suite of companies no longer having any commercial arrangements in place with Adani.

Notable among these are AECOM and Austrak who with much fanfare in 2017, signed letters of award for design, construction, operations, and

the supply of materials for Adani’s previously proposed 388-kilometre railway line.

In the case of Austrak, the deal with Adani was expected to generate an additional 50 jobs at their Rockhampton depot as they fabricated thousands of sleepers for the rail line once it was approved. AECOM who had up to 100 people working on Adani’s rail project was paid out in full in January this year when Adani halted work to get its approvals finalised.

Adani has now abandoned plans to build an independent 388-kilometre standard gauge rail line to port capable of

accommodating trains with 220 carriages. Instead, it now plans to construct a 200-kilometre narrow gauge rail line that can only accommodate trains about half that length, linking into Aurizon’s existing Newlands rail system to Abbot Point.

While still a significant undertaking, neither AECOM or Austrak has any commercial arrangement in place with Adani right now.

As for the mine itself, under non-binding Letters of Award signed just before Christmas in 2014, Downer Mining was the business most likely to provide around $2 Billion worth of work at Carmicheal including drilling, blasting and the hauling of overburden and coal.

However, despite all the fanfare and time invested in getting the Letters of Award established, they lived up to their non - binding nature with both parties walking away in 2017.

Nonetheless, Adani Mining CEO Lucas Dow said this week they would be looking to finalise key contracts over the coming weeks.

“The finalisation of the

GDEMP and Black-throated Finch Management Plan paves the way for construction to commence on the Carmichael Project and the delivery of much-needed jobs for regional Queenslanders,” he said.

“Over the coming days, preparatory activities such as finalising contracts, mobilising equipment, recruitment and completing inductions will continue.

“These preparatory actions will enable us to then start construction activities including fencing, bridge and road upgrades, water management and civil earthworks on the mine site.

“The level of construction activity will then steadily increase over the coming weeks.

“The project will deliver 1,500 direct and 6,750 indirect jobs during ramp up and construction, with Rockhampton and Townsville the primary hubs for employment. The Whitsunday, Isaac, Central Highlands, Mackay, Charters Towers and Gladstone regions will also benefit from work packages and employment opportunities.”

1st for mines minister For the first time in the event’s history, the Queensland Mines Minister will give a presentation at this months Queensland Mining Health and Safety Conference.

While Government ministers have routinely attended the event to undertake ceremonial duties, Chair of the organising committee and CFMEU safety representative Greg Dallison says Mines Minister Anthony Lynham will be the first to take the stage and set aside significant time to attend behind the scenes safety workshops.

“The Minister has got his session on Monday afternoon on all the resets and safety stuff that is going on at the moment,” he told Shift Miner.

“We were able to change the program around, because usually we have a couple of companies share their stories about accidents and fatalities, but this year a couple of companies didn’t want to share their stuff.

“Well more accurately, the companies in Australia wanted to do it, but they were legally stopped from doing it by their bosses overseas.

“So the Minister decided he

would like to talk to everyone, which is good because I think we have the biggest number of registrations ever this year.”

The conference is supported and developed by a cross-section of mining industry participants and primarily aims to disseminate the latest knowledge regarding safety issues in Queensland mining.

Among the notable topics and speakers, are Natascha Viljoen, Group Head of Processing at Anglo American on “An Industry Without Fatalities”, Rob Lansdown, Outbye Electrical Coordinator at Moranbah North Mine on “Blind Intersection Warning LED Indication”, Toby Everson.

Maintenance Superintendent, BMA on “Broadmeadow Battery Electric Vehicle for UG Coal”, Glenn Owens, Project Manager BMA Engineering on “Broadmeadow Proximity Detection Systems” and Simon Burnett, Development Mechanical Coordinator, Anglo American Grasstree Mine on “Grasstree Development Team Dust Suppression”.

The event runs from Sunday the 18th August to Wednesday the 21st.

August 2019 9

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Massive Dysart expansion

The owners of the Lake Vermont open cut coal mine have lodged paperwork for a significant expansion to the North, capable of producing seven million tonnes of both coking and thermal coal a year for the next 25 years.

Drought bites Despite some late wet season rains, water supplies across the Bowen Basin remain at critical levels for both industrial and other users.

Last month all of the Central Highlands Regional Council area which covers much of the Bowen Basin - was drought declared.

Mayor Kerry Hayes says it clears the way for special assistance.

“We appreciate the Local Drought Committee considering seasonal conditions and monitoring pasture responses,’ Mayor Hayes said.

“This method should provide better-targeted assistance to producers experiencing effects of drought, and we’re grateful that those north of the Capricorn Highway now have access to financial support.”

For the mining sector, things are looking better than they were, with key water storage Fairbairn Dam currently at around 20% of capacity.

In March, before some late rain, the dam had dropped to less than 15% and it was looking increasingly likely that industrial water users would have their entitlements cut.

In most cases, industrial and mining customers pay a significant premium to have a high priority water entitlement, but it is still dependent on water availability.

10 August 2019

Known as the Lake Vermont Meadowbrook Project (LVMP), the proposal is to develop a doubleseam underground longwall coal mine, supported by some bord and pillar development, along with three small-scale ‘satellite’ open-cut pits targeting the coal resource.

To support this, Bowen Basin Coal Pty Ltd (the syndicate of companies who own Lake Vermont) say they will also need to build extensive supporting infrastructure. This includes a surface ROM stockpile; workshop; a diesel storage/re-fuelling area; an emulsion farm; equipment washdown/laydown area as well as an overland conveyor system or truck haulage road to deliver ROM coal from the new MIA to the existing CHPP. They will also have to expand the accommodation facilities at nearby Dysart significantly.

Lodging referrals with

the Federal Department of Environment is a small but significant step for the development of a new mine and simply entitles BBC to begin the enormous task of getting an approved EIS. However, all that is contingent on finalising a deal with BHP. “The current registered owners of the Meadowbrook property are BHP Coal Pty Ltd, Umal Consolidated Pty Ltd, BHP Queensland Coal Investments Pty Ltd, Mitsubishi Development Pty Ltd, QCT Investment Pty Ltd, QCT Mining Pty Ltd, and QCT Resources Pty Ltd,” BBC said.

“At the time of preparing

this referral, we are in the late stages of purchasing the portion of the Meadowbrook property that overlays the Project MDLs.

“An application to subdivide

this property has been made, with BMA to retain the portion of the property underlying their Saraji East Project.

“It is envisaged that the sale will be finalised in the coming months, and upon transfer of ownership, BBC will be the registered owner of all land relevant to the Meadowbrook Project site.”

While BBC has not released official figures, the project is expected to cost billions of dollars and will generate hundreds of jobs, although a significant proportion of the labour force is likely to come from existing Lake Vermont mining operations.

The Meadowbrook Project will supplement the scheduled decline in production from the existing open-cut operations so that the total output from the overall Lake Vermont complex will be maintained around 12 Mtpa of ROM coal.

“Fracking” a black-lung-like risk

The Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate (PGI) is planning to increase surveillance within the gas industry after two Queensland workers were exposed to dangerous levels of silica dust. One of the workers recorded levels three times higher than the regulatory limit.

The exposure occurred at a hydraulic stimulation site, where water and sand were being pumped under high pressure into coal seams to improve CSG flows, in a process commonly referred to as “fracking”.

According to the PGI, there was an over-dependence on dust masks.

“During the monitoring,

several workers wore sampling devices that monitored their respirable dust and quartz (silica) exposures during their work shifts,” they said.

“Two of the 35 workers exceeded the shift adjusted regulatory limit, with one, in particular, measuring three times the limit.

“Several workers also fell within the action zone (50100% of the adjusted regulatory exposure limit exposure).

“Workers who exceeded the limit were positioned downwind of sand proppant transfer operations, and there was an over-reliance on respiratory protective equipment (RPE) which

was worn inconsistently.

“Some workers were unable to achieve effective RPE seals due to facial hair, and reloading of the bulk loader with the use of compressed air potentially exposed workers in the vicinity to airborne dust containing a high percentage of silica.”

According to IPE, when respirable silica dust is inhaled, there is a range of health effects possible ranging from chronic bronchitis to lung cancer or silicosis.

Apart from undertaking compliance action and stepping up its surveillance, the PGI has advised CSG operators to make procedural changes in how they manage dust.

“We recommend dust reduction strategies to concentrate on reduction/capture at the source, as the use of respiratory protection may not be adequate even if appropriately chosen, worn and fitted,” they said.

“Further, we recommend scheduling the refill of bulk loaders when no other workers are on the lease, and if this cannot occur, all workers should wear mandatory RPE on the lease.

“Workers should also ensure they position themselves upwind of dust-generating activities.”

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Adani buzz not spreading

Other Galilee mining hopefuls don’t appear to be following in the footsteps of Adani to develop their vast Galilee coal deposits.

Peter Bleakley, the proprietor of the Caltex fuel depot in Clermont, says even before last months Government approvals for Adani came through, there had been a notable lift in Adani related mining activity.

“Planned activity has been going on for a while mate, a lot of contractors around,” he told Shift Miner

“Of course it will bring business to Clermont.

“There is 55,000 tonne of rail line that has got to come here from Whyalla, and there are two and a half million railway sleepers that have got to come here from Rockhampton.

“So if 10 per cent of those people stop here for a start, it’s going to bring a lot of business.”

However, Mr Bleakley says he hasn’t seen any signs of work from the other Galilee proponents like GVK Hancock, although he points out that it is early days and Adani itself still has to build a railway line.

Back in 2011, five companies were vying to build six lines that crisscrossed hundreds of kilometres of pastoral land between the Galilee Basin and Abbot Point Coal terminal.

But in 2014 the State Government acted to put an end to some of that uncertainty by creating the Galilee Basin State Development Area (SDA) which accommodated two 100-metre wide rail corridors totalling 690 kilometres - one from the south and one from the central end of

the Galilee Basin.

However, since then, Galilee front runner Adani has completely abandoned its original plans for a 388-kilometre standard gauge rail line capable of carrying trains with 220 carriages, in preference for a 200-kilometre narrow gauge rail line connecting with Aurizon’s Newlands rail system that can only carry trains half that length.

Under this new plan, it is unclear whether the rail line would have the capacity to accommodate coal from other Galilee miners on a tolling basis, or even whether ADani would want to help its competitors.

It may not, therefore, be surprising that Landholders whose properties are at the heart of GVK Hancock’s coal plans say they have not heard anything from them in months, the monthly payments which were part of their original compensation agreements have stopped, and there hasn’t been any activity in Alpha.

GVK is an Indian company, which has a 79 per cent stake in the Alpha Coal and Alpha West projects, and a 100 per cent stake in the Kevin’s Corner project south

of Adani in the Galilee basin near Alpha.

These projects have total resources of 8 billion tonnes and a theoretical peak mine production of 80 million tonnes a year.

Despite the lack of activity now, late last year Mayor of the Central Highlands Regional Council Kerry Hayes confirmed they had recent talks with GVK Hancock over the development of their Galilee coal mine.

“GVK are obviously well advanced and well prepared to take the opportunity of accessing that rail line,” Cr Hayes said at the time “Similar to the Pilbara in Western Australia, when the first major project kicks off, and there is a sharing arrangement on the rail line, it provides the catalyst for those other mines.

“GVK have certainly indicated that they are in a state of preparedness.

“They have been very patient, and given some commitments to our Council and the Barcaldine Regional Council, and a very very clear intention in the future around Alpha and Emerald.”

August 2019 11

Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com Gas industry back exploring Central Queensland’s resources sector continues to underpin the economy with exports of coal from Australia this calendar year increasing seven per cent to $25.7 billion, while exports of LNG have risen around 45 per cent to just over $20 billion.

The figures come from the Australian Bureau of Statistics who also say that for the first five months of this year we have exported nearly 20% more energy and resources from Australia than last year, generating around $115 billion.

Meanwhile, a Santos/Shell JV and Bridgeport Energy have won the right to explore for gas across 1000 square kilometres near Chinchilla, and 300 square kilometres near Tara respectively.

In awarding the Authority to Prospect, Queensland Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said the approvals took just three weeks, and are critical to the ongoing success of Queensland’s LNG industry.

“Santos and Shell already are major players in Queensland’s onshore A$70-billion gas industry,” he said.

“Granting of these ATPs is all about getting the petajoules in the pipes and boosting gas supply to help meet demand.

“Santos/Shell and Bridgeport’s ongoing investment in exploration demonstrates the high level of confidence in Queensland’s onshore gas industry.”

How far does $500K go?

The recent election and approval of Adani’s Carmicheal coal mine have made the outlook for house prices in Central Queensland the best in years according to valuers Herron Todd White (HTW).

In Rockhampton, HTW says there is new optimism, and for $500,000 a home buyer has some good options to buy on either side of the river in suburbs like Allenstown, Wandal, Parkhurst, Frenchville, and Norman Gardens.

“Upon reflection from this time last year, we are happy to report our position on the property clock has improved slightly, rising from the bottom of the market to a position now considered to be in the recovery stage, albeit very slow,” they said.

“This view has been formed after seeing a tightening of the vacancy rates, improved

Miners back underground Just one month short of a year since the mine closed due to a fire, miners are back working underground at the North Goonyella coal mine.

Prior to sending people underground the mine’s owner Peabody spent a month pumping oxygen underground and monitoring gas levels to gauge whether it’s triggered any of the fires that were previously burning - but though to be out.

However, in some excellent news for everybody involved, Peabody’s Australian President George Schuller said a fortnight ago, they have successfully passed the “critical” re-ventilation phase and are now putting people back underground.

“Following the re-ventilation of Zone 1 of the mine, our team is ready to return underground and move us yet one step closer to resuming normal operations,” he said.

“We appreciate the dedication and participation of our trained

12 August 2019

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employees, as well as the Queensland Mine Rescue Service, as we continue to advance this process.

“The first zone of the mine represents approximately 25 per cent of the area to be re-entered, and the area expected to be least affected by the incident, and upon re-entering Zone 1, we will assess conditions underground and make any necessary repairs required before reventilating Zone two.”

Peabody has a goal of producing 2 million tonnes of coal from the North Goonyella mine in 2020, which is now less than six months away.

Entering the next phase will be welcomed by North Goonyella’s 225 mining employees who have been working on installing critical infrastructure for nearly a year, all the while knowing their long term future at the mine was in limbo until the mine’s future was guaranteed.

rental returns and apparent air of confidence after an election result.

“The short to medium term performance of Rockhampton and the region overall is generally considered to be a period of stabilisation.

“Capital growth is not expected to be huge, but returns should remain fairly solid in the interim with vacancy rates showing a tightening trend, currently below three per cent in most sectors of the market.”

In Mackay, a year ago for $500,000 HTW says you would have got a large executive style rendered dwelling around ten years old or newer with shed and pool in the Northern Beaches, a fully renovated Queenslander anywhere, or a brand new house in any of the better quality estate

developments.

Today they say the story is about the same.

“Well, I know how Bill Murray feels, but it’s still Ground Hog Day in the Mackay area,” they said.

“The residential market continues to bubble along, with good momentum on the back of increased employment opportunities in the resource sector, large infrastructure projects and general optimism in the Mackay economy.

“With the potential for capital growth, it is still considered a great time to invest in Mackay, with good yields currently available on dwellings and units.

“A flow on effect is that we are already witnessing tenants who are missing properties or not willing to pay the higher rents starting to enter the market as owner-occupiers.

“This should see the momentum over the past two years continue into the short-term future.”

In Emerald closer to the coalfields, HTW says the market continues to firm rating it as a rising market, which means property prices recovered more their than anywhere else in Central Queensland.

Shed prices down The market for small entry level industrial property remains subdued in Central Queensland, despite the strength of the resources sector.

Valuers Herron Todd White (HTW) looked at the performance of this asset class, finding few sales of note and little evidence of notable growth.

In Rockhampton entry-level industrial property was defined as being below $500,000, and according to HTW, most commonly purchased by small business operators and investors.

However, activity in this sector remains subdued despite the booming coal sector with only three notable recent sales. A small 234 square metre strata-titled unit in Park Avenue which sold for around $310,000, A strata-titled unit in Kawana in a more modern complex selling for $350,000 and an older 390 square metre shed on 1,619 square metres of land which sold for $500,000.

“Investment opportunities at this price bracket are limited,” they said.

“Yields generally fall within the eight to ten per cent range depending on a variety of factors.

“There has been strong demand from southern investors in the sub $1-million price bracket, however only for leased properties with a sound unexpired lease term.”

According to HTW in Gladstone, entry level is treated as less than $1 million, and it’s a similar story.

“There has been very limited activity, with many owners hesitant to sell in the current market unless absolutely necessary,” they said.

“Over the past 12 to 24 months, there has been only a handful of sales in this price bracket, and they generally include older style sheds between $500,000 and $900,000.

“One of the more recent sales is an older style shed in Hilliard Street that sold for $790,000, which had a reported area of 591 square metres and is set on a 2,668 square metre parcel.

“The shed was sold with vacant possession.”

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News

First coal in a month

Sojitz is on track to bring the Gregory Crinum mine back into production with management reporting that first coal is likely by September.

In March, Sojitz announced they had bought the mine from its former owners BMA for around $100 million plus the rehabilitation liabilities that came with it, saying at the time, their goal was to have the mine producing coal as soon as possible.

With draglines powered up, two excavators working, and more on the way, CEO Cameron Vorias is optimistic.

“Everything is going to plan, there have been no major challenges pop up,” he told Shift Miner “We’ve got the safety forums in place, we moved some

people across from the Minerva operation, and we’ve recruited around 30 workers from Emerald.

“In our recruitment process, we have found numerous quality candidates who have previously lived in Emerald or who want to rejoin their extended family living in Emerald, and they have been very keen to come on board.

“Of course our priority has been to our Minerva workers, and then our focus has been on employing local candidates, and we have good numbers for that.”

In its last month of operation before being put into care and maintenance, BMA set a new monthly record at Gregory Crinum by putting 980,000 tonnes of coal through the Coal Handling and Preparation Plant, so getting the mine back up and running is a high priority for its new owners.

However, Sojitz is continuing to push ahead with its other projects across Central Queensland. Most notably it lodged paperwork this week with the Federal Government to get the environmental approvals required to build a rail loop at its existing Meteor Downs South (MDS) coal mine.

Currently, Sojitz and Endocoal - who jointly own the mine - are using road trains to transport coal approximately 80 kilometres along the Dawson Highway, through the Springsure township, to Minerva Mine where it is loaded onto trains and transported to Gladstone for export.

Mr Vorias says he expects the development of a rail loop, stockpiling and loading facility near MDS will remove a significant bottleneck for their operations and see production triple to 1.5 million tonnes.

Despite all that, Mr Vorias says he remains cautiously optimistic about coal prices.

“Thermal coal price is not brilliant at the moment, coking coal is certainly maintaining itself, thermal coal we continue to watch,” he said.

China into gas Chinese-controlled gas and electricity business Jemena continues to consolidate its position in Central Queensland infrastructure with the $50 million purchase of the Roma North gas processing facility and pipeline.

Late last year gas business Senex employed construction firm Wasco to build the 16 TJ/ day gas processing plant, which is now in the process of being commissioned.

Subject to some performance testing, Senex has agreed to sell the brand new facility and an associated pipeline to Jemena, conditional on them being able to use it for at least the next 20 years for an agreed fee.

While the Roma North Gas Development was a standalone initiative, it could be the foundation of the far more significant Western Surat Gas Project (WSGP) which Senex hopes to make a final investment decision about shortly.

The WSGP - if built - could see the development of around 1000 coal seam gas wells over thirty years, across nine hundred square kilometres.

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News

Jobs highest since 2014

Recruitment agency DFP Mining and Resources says national job advertising within the Australian mining sector is at its highest level since 2014.

In it’s July Mining and Resources Job Index Report, they said vacancies increased by 4% in May off the back of strong commodity prices.

“Permanent vacancies increased by 3.9% and temporary and contract vacancies rose by 4.3%,” they said.

“The job market in Western Australia is very healthy, and a rise of 5.1% further contributed to its strong results for 2019, while Queensland also returned to positive territory with a 4.4% increase which is encouraging news for the state.”

According to DFP, recruitment demand appears to be following the trend line set by the Reserve Bank of Australia’s non-rural commodity price index, which aggregates prices received for

Lost market in India

Concerns about an over dependency on Australian coking coal has seen Indian steel makers reduce their imports of Central Queensland coal.

India currently produces around 9.4 million tonnes of crude steel a year, and three years ago, 88% of the coking coal required to do that came from Australia.

However, new figures from the Indian Government reveal Australia’s share has fallen to 71 per cent, with the difference going to US and Canadian coal producers.

India has a population of nearly 1.2 billion, and currently, every person consumes about 40-50 kilograms of steel per year.

By comparison, every Australian consumes about 500 kilograms of steel per year.

Eight years ago Coal India - India’s biggest coal producer

14 August 2019

- was so concerned about the supply of coal that they asked for Expressions of Interest from Australian coal explorers and producers who might like to undertake a joint venture.

According to the expression of interest (EOI), they saw a massive surge in demand for coal in India, which they didn’t think they would be able to supply from domestic coal mines.

“The gap between coal demand on Coal India and envisaged domestic coal supply potential in 2011-12 is in excess of 200 million tonnes,” the EOI said.

“The emerging business environment, therefore, necessitates the immediate acquisition of coal resources abroad.”

About that time, Adani embarked on its ambitious plan to develop its massive Carmicheal thermal coal mine in the Galilee Basin which is now under construction.

India’ is among the worlds biggest steel producers alongside South Korea, Japan and the USA who produce between 6 and 9.5 million tonnes a year. However, the giant in the industry is still China, which produced around 80 million tonnes of steel last year.

significant export commodities like coal and Iron ore.

That index was up 5% in May and is up nearly 19% in the last six months, and 33% over the previous year.

“The chart suggests that hiring is actually lagging behind the pace of price increases,” DFP said.

“While there are certainly international political headwinds that necessitate caution, there is still potential for significant growth in employment in the

Mining and Resources sector in the months ahead.”

However, the report wasn’t all good news, with job demand in coal mining actually falling again, with around 8% fewer job vacancies than the same time last year.

On the flip side, Oil & Gas enjoyed a rare month of growth with vacancies rising 7.1% in May, the first rise since 2019.

In terms of the type of skills being targetted, DFP said it was a mixed bag, with demand for drillers, miners and operators up 22.3% in three months, while electrical and mechanical trades have fallen by 12.8% over the same period.

“The standout story was the boom in Mining & Petroleum Engineering job opportunities,” they said.

“In May it managed just a 2.3% rise, but this consolidates the enormous improvement in job prospects in the last 12 months.

“The market is now 71.1% higher than a year ago.”

$17k paid in back pay Miners at Cameby Downs have received as much as $17,000 in back pay for time spent at prestart meetings over four years.

The payments follow a Fair Work Commission (FWC) decision in March that rejected an attempt by Syntech Resources - a whollyowned subsidiary of Yancoal - to avoid paying workers extra for attending half hour long pre-start meetings before each shift.

Generally, pre-start meetings are an opportunity for workgroups to discuss the day’s activities and any safety or operational issues that they might encounter, and for this reason, are considered to be a critical part of the work day for some - if not all - miners.

Syntech and mining union the CFMMEU sought clarification from the FWC over whether an employee who attends a 30-minute pre-start outside of rostered hours was entitled to extra pay.

Syntech’s main argument was that their 2017 Enterprise Agreement (EA) explicitly made it clear that pre-start meetings were covered by a workers annual salary.

“An employee’s remuneration for 52 weeks consists of

compensation for all hours worked,” they said.

“Including rostered hours, time taken to travel between the site entrance and the designated start place for work including a maximum 30 minutes for pre-start meetings.... and all other payments and allowances other than those separately and specifically provided for in this Agreement.”

However, the CFMMEU responded that the key issue was whether the meetings were occurring within the rostered hours or not.

“In relation to attendance outside of rostered hours, the CFMMEU accepts that the EA allows Syntech to require employees to attend a pre-start meeting,” they said.

“But only as a part of their rostered hours, being hours that are remunerated as part of the annual salary.

“Where attendance is outside of rostered hours, the dispute is whether additional remuneration is required for those hours.”

In the end, Deputy President Asbury found in favour of the CFMMEU saying Syntech needed to either redefine the hours of work in its rosters or pay extra.

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Around Town

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16 August 2019

Around Town

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News

Thermal coal prices wobble

Despite Gladstone Port announcing record coal exports last month, a correction in the thermal coal price is starting to change the outlook and behaviour of some Central Queensland coal miners.

The price for thermal coal (used in energy production) has been falling steadily over the last six months, with BHP announcing this week their average thermal coal price was down around $US10/t to $US 72/t.

Meanwhile, Yancoal one the worlds biggest thermal coal exporters announced last week falling thermal coal prices had

meant their average overall coal price (Both coking and thermal) had dropped from $US133/t at the start of the year to $US116/t in the three months to June.

Possibly having a bearing on Australian thermal coal prices, is the current situation in China, where around 15 million tonnes of Australian thermal coal (worth around $1billion) is believed to be sitting unprocessed on Chinese docks.

Chinese authorities are blaming the 50-day delays on the rollout of what they call a new program of environmental testing.

However, some in the industry are

$400 Million gas project kicks off Chinese-controlled gas and electricity business Jemena commenced construction of one Surat Basin pipeline and lodged paperwork for another lastr month.

The sixty-kilometre pipeline under construction will deliver 40 Terra Joules of gas from Senex’s Project Atlas to the Wallumbilla gas hub and onto domestic customers.

Project Atlas, near Wandoan, is the first acreage in Australia designated solely to supply gas to the domestic market with Senex recently finalising supply contracts with major Queensland manufacturers CSR Limited, Orora Limited and O-I Australia.

Senex CEO Ian Davies said they will spend about half a billion dollars in the region.

“Senex is making excellent progress in the development of Project Atlas, with first gas deliveries to the domestic gas market planned for late 2019,” he said.

“Senex and Jemena will invest almost $400 million to bring natural gas from Project Atlas and the nearby Roma North development to market, an investment which will not only create new jobs and support the western Queensland economy

but also generate material royalties for the Queensland Government to support roads, schools and hospitals.”

Meanwhile, further North in the Galilee, Jemena has lodged initial paperwork with the Federal Government for the environmental approvals required to pipe gas to the east coast.

The gas would come from gas explorer Galilee Energy who has been exploring and testing gas flows with CSG from coal in the Galilee Basin around Augathella and Blackall.

In a statement this week Galilee Energy Managing Director Peter Lansom said they are optimistic about the project.

“Early signs are really encouraging with Glenaras 14L and the team are working hard to ensure all wells are online as soon as possible,” he said.

“I would like to congratulate Jemena on their outstanding progress on the Galilee Gas Pipeline.

“This is further evidence that Galilee is moving at pace to achieve its objective of supplying material gas volumes into the east coast gas market.”

speculating the delays are specific to Australian coal and are a trade response to Australia banning Chinese Telecommuncioations companies from tendering for the 5G rollout.

Whatever the case, Yancoal acknowledged last week it was hurting business.

“During the June quarter, the impediment to Australian thermal coal deliveries into China continued to influence the ­regional market; as a result, API5 index has depreciated during the period,” they said.

Meanwhile, prices for metallurgical or coking coal (used in making steel) continue to remain at very healthy levels.

BHP says their average coking coal price of $US179.53/t has remained more or less stable for the last two financial years.

However, both coal types remain very profitable with mining companies benefitting from a very favourable US dollar exchange rate. A reduction in the value of the Aussie dollar when compared to the US Dollar increases the final price Australian producers receive when they sell their coal.

First coal from Bluff First coal has been exported from Queensland’s newest coal mine less than six months after pre-strip operations commenced.

The Bluff Coal Project which is ultimately owned

by Chinese controlled Wealth mining is a PCI coal mine employing around 140 people of which about 40 come from the nearby communities of Bluff and Blackwater.

Celebrating the export milestone CEO of Bluff PCI Management Stuart Clarke said operations were on track.

“Our production levels are for about 1.2Mtpa, and certainly we’re hitting that,” he said.

“We’ve currently got enough coal in the stockpile and coming out of the pit to say that we’re in steady state production.”

The small truck and shovel open-cut operation is part of a tenement containing 11 million tonnes of mineable, and nine million tonnes of marketable (JORC) coal.

1 in 5 jobs vulnerable?

A steering committee bringing together BHP and members of the Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3) has been formed to prepare for the loss of as many as 20% of existing jobs because of automation in Central Queensland.

GW3 is an organisation formed and funded by the Isaac, Mackay and Whitsunday Regional Councils to develop the local economy, and the Create Our Futures Steering Committee (COFSC) will specifically deal with the impact of automation.

GW3 is planning a Mackay Summit in early August to discuss the rollout of automation in businesses like BHP, responding to what Development manager Kylie Porter says is a huge threat.

“The research is very compelling,” she said.

“According to the Regional Australia Institute, more than one in five jobs in our region is at medium to high vulnerability to automation.

“So, from a total regional workforce of more than 85,000,

the potential impact is huge.

“New jobs and services can replace or enhance traditional jobs, so the Summit is about understanding what those jobs or services might look like and how you can prepare for them.

“It’s really important to realise that this Summit is not just about the mining industry and driverless trucks; new digital technology impacts every industry.”

BHP’s Vice President of Technology Global Transformation Rag Udd who will be speaking at the Summit said earlier this year that digital disruption was inevitable in mining.

He predicted that they would invest in 400,000 hours of training for their workforce to transition them to a future where half their employees would need to have advanced coding skills.

While many people are sceptical about the ability of a long term mining operator to reskill in middle age, Mr Udd isn’t and says there will be better inclusivity along the way.

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18 August 2019

Around Town

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Around Town

August 2019 19

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FRANK THE TANK’S

Streaking good love advice

Dear Frank, I am currently a miner at Peak Downs and, like many of us here, I have been reading your column for some time. However since no one actually knows your true identity, some of the blokes have been making jokes that I am Frank the Tank, since my own nick name is ‘Tank’.

The problem is my wife has heard them and she is now just about certain that I am Frank the Tank.

How can I prove to her that I am not you.

Les ‘the tank’, Rockhampton I’m actually a little disappointed to receive this letter. Do you have any idea how often I have to deal with shameless imitators?

Virtually every time I go to the pub I see some drunk bloke there telling everyone he’s Frank the Tank in the hope that someone will shout him a free beer.

Those free beers should be mine, but for a variety of reasons,

20 August 2019

it’s imperative my identity remain a secret.

A few years ago I participated in a Christmas orgy and, due to my superhuman virility, unintentionally impregnated six women.

I can’t deal with six concurrent paternity suits. If you piled that on top of my fines for public exposure and holding unlicensed children’s karate tournaments I’d be financially ruined!

Sometimes I long to reveal myself to the world, but it’s imperative I remain anonymous... plus my longing to reveal myself is what led to my fines for public exposure in the first place.

I’ve got a couple of ideas about how you can convince your wife you’re not me, and I’m going to pitch them to you in order of brilliance.

For a modest fee I will be quite happy to come to your house and make love to your wife while wearing a ski mask (to protect my identity).

My incomparable skill

in the bedroom will quickly convince her that I’m not you; unfortunately, there is a chance she’ll lose her mind. For some women, the Frank experience is too intense. I’ve sent 15 different women to the mental health unit suffering from a pleasure-based delirium.

If your wife’s continued sanity is important, you could always just lie and tell her you are Frank the Tank. She’ll get angry initially, but when she calms down and realises that she’s married to the legend himself, she’ll be so awe-inspired you’ll have to take a week-long ‘sex vacation’ - or sexcation - from work.

Naturally you’ll have to pay a fee for impersonating me, so please forward $100 a week to Frank the Tank, care of Shift Miner Magazine. Those public exposure fines need to be paid somehow.

Frank

SENSIBLE SUSAN Les, I must say my sympathies go out to you. I can’t imagine your distress at being confused with Frank.

I am one of the few people who knows Frank’s true identity. I had to take a restraining order out against him after he began hounding me for giving what he calls “unrealistic love advice.”

You obviously can’t be Frank the Tank. He would never write a letter because he was concerned about upsetting his wife. In my view the real Frank should be locked up somewhere so he can receive the psychological help he so desperately needs.

As such, I can wholeheartedly assure your wife that you are not Frank the Tank..

Susan

Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com

News

August 2019 21

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News

MadMumzie.com

ANOTHER MINER KILLED IN THE BOWEN BASIN

I feel the need to chat with you again about the sad news of yet another mining fatality in our region. That’s 3 in 6 months.

Much has been said about the number of lives lost in such a short time. We need to remember each one of those “numbers” was also a treasured person, whose tragic loss will affect the lives of many around them forever.

This happened 3 weeks ago as I write this. My sadness soon turned to frustration and it really pissed me off to see the media and peeps on social media doing the same as last time.

A screenshot of a reporter

privately asking a commenter for the name, or any details of the person who died not long after the tragedy was shared in a Facey group.

The comments on that post about the apparent heartlessness and desperation of the reporter were scathing, and understandably so. It really hurt me that this was still going on. Wait a bit will ya?

You will find out soon.

That same reporter rang me the next day for my comment on the safety in our mines. I let her know I was not happy Jan with what I had seen in that screenshot.

“That was you wasn’t it? Do you remember how much you guys copped the last time this happened?”

“Yeah” Surely, they had learnt something about our thoughts on social media before next of kin, which I shared with you only two Shift Miners ago. I’m inspired to record a podcast about it. Oh yeah, that’s right I did, last time. Yes, I did send it to the reporter, perhaps they will actually listen now?

Maybe they will get my dial on the tv one day when it’s some good

news, not another death. However, I have a good head for radio and podcasting, so I doubt it.

I suggested contacting Mates in Mining for their thoughts, and it was nice to see them on the news that night. That’s when I heard how long it took for the recovery to happen. The tears just kept coming and coming.

No more mining deaths, not one more-ever.

My next article surely must be about something else other than the hypocrisy of anti-Adani protesters and the desperation of reporters to “get” the name of the person who died or any details, ASAP. Please my Peeps stay safe, look after each other out there and at home. If you need to talk to someone, reach out and have a yarn. Don’t keep shit like this on the inside.

We are all in this together.

Our mining family is large and extended and losses like this affect us all, right down to the little kids watching the news, who know and love someone working in the mines too.

Cheers MM

Note from he editor Enjoy this? You will love her award winning podcast “Beers with A Miner”.

MM was a finalist in the 2018 Australian Podcast Awards. We asked her what it was like to be recognised.

“The nomination came as a complete surprise to me. I headed down to Melbourne for the finals, and had a fantastic time, even though I didn’t win my category,” she said.

“Interestingly, fellow Podcasters were amazed that I drove those big trucks, and more so, had a podcast about it!

“Thanks to Saraya D’Arth, underground miner and WIMARQ awards finalist from Broadmeadows, your episode 33 was the one I entered.

“And of course all my other guests are great too.”

Search for “Beers With a Miner” in your favourite Podcast app, or head to MadMumzie.com/beers and push play.

Callide seeking to slash contracts

The future direction for the Callide mine near Biloela is unknown this month following significant management changes and indications that the company wants to renegotiate all its existing supplier contracts.

While no one from Batchfire management (past or present) has responded to Shift Miner’s request

22 August 2019

for an interview, a source close to proceedings told Shift Miner a battle for control of the company had triggered the removal of well respected Batchfire CEO Peter Westerhuis.

Mr Westerhuis had been at the head of Batchfire since 2016 when it bought Callide mine from Anglo American. During that time

he has presided over a major fleet upgrade, the restart of Boundary Hill mining operations and the Boundary Hill South expansion.

Collectively they have contributed to an increase in production from the Callide complex of nearly 30% from eight million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to around 11 mtpa.

Callide is an unusual operation in so far that most of its thermal coal is contracted for sale to domestic coal power generator CS energy and some energyhungry aluminium producers at Gladstone. Any tonnages available after meeting those contracts can be sold onto the global thermal coal market.

However, newly appointed business head Chris Coombes has put all suppliers on notice this week, advising them in writing they will be looking for a better deal.

“The Asian export market for Callide’s thermal coal (Low CV) has proven extremely difficult due to a global oversupply,” he said.

“In August 2018, China

restricted coal imports in an effort to cap them at 2017 levels and in March 2019…... China applied further restrictions on Australian thermal coal imports.

“As of May 2019, coal oversupply worsened when Colombian, South African and Russian coal was pushed from European (LNG Glut) to Asian markets which were further exasperated by increased coal output from Indonesia.

“Since August 2018, the price for High-CV “Newcastle” thermal coal has fallen by $50/t (42%), and the price fall for Low-CV thermal coal (Callide Coal) has been worse.

“As a result, Batchfire is now entering into discussions with all service providers and suppliers on pricing relief and payment terms.”

The Callide mining tenure extends across 180 square kilometres and contains an estimated coal resource of up to 1.7 billion tonnes.

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News

$950 million over five years

Stanmore coal has welcomed the new financial year by announcing major expansion plans and a significant broadening of its relationship with its primary contractor Golding.

Golding already has contracts with Stanmore at their Isaac Plains East (IPE) and Isaac Plains mine, but this new agreement will add about $450 million worth of work over five years, and bring the total value of contract work

for Golding to $950 million over the same period (depending on coal prices).

Under the deal, from August Golding will add to the total mining effort at IPE by supplying an EX3600 Hitachi Excavator and five EH3500 dump trucks, as well as operating and maintaining a Stanmore owned CAT6060 excavator.

The IPE coal deposit formerly known as Wotonga -

Coal production record Anglo American is close to finalising a feasibility study into expanding their Coal Handling and Preparation Plant (CHHP) near Moranbah by up to 40%. The expansion of the CHHP is in response to expanding production at their nearby Moranbah North and Grosvenor coal mines.

While Anglo has yet to confirm the final figure, Shift Miner understands Moranbah North set a new weekly production record last month putting their Queensland operations on track to smash all previous quarterly records.

Tyler Mitchelton, Chief Executive Officer of Anglo’s Metallurgical Coal business, told Shift Miner the wash plant project would increase capacity by 4 - 6 Mtpa from 2021.

“Over the next five years, we intend to look at ways to grow our business,” he said.

“We are looking at expanding the capacity of our Moranbah-Grosvenor plant by 30 – 40 per cent, as our

Moranbah North and Grosvenor mines, have the capability to produce more than they currently do.”

The production growth in the last three months follows a trend set in the previous financial year when Anglo doubled underlying profit to nearly $2.5 billion on the back of a 65% increase in coal prices and record production at their Queensland metallurgical coal mines.

They also flagged the possibility of developing a coking coal deposit called Moranbah South adjacent to the Moranbah North mine, expanding the Dawson coal mine, and extending the life of Grasstree operations.

The current outlook at Anglo is a far cry from their view at the height of the downturn in 2014 when CEO Mark Cutifani said they were getting out of coal, and put all their Australian operations on the market. They then sold the Foxleigh mine to Realm Resources and the Callide mine to Batchfire Resources.

was purchased from Peabody for around $7 million in 2015 and Stanmore is currently aiming for 3 million tonnes of ROM coal a year.

However, the Stanmore owned excavator is only scheduled to be at IPE for about 16 months, as it will then move to the Isaac Downs project once Stanmore gets the required environmental approvals.

The Isaac Downs project is south of IPE operations and was acquired by Stanmore in 2018 for around $30 million and was formerly known as Wotonga South. It has a JORC resource of 22.8 million tonnes, classified mostly as semi-soft coking coal.

WA based NRW owns Golding and managing Director Jules Pemberton says the deal is a perfect fit as they demobilise from Middlemount Coal operations.

“We expect our capital commitment to be very low at around $10 million as we are able to utilise fleet secured through an agreed early release from the Middlemount coal contract,” she

said.

“As the Middlemount project is a maintain dry hire contract, the release of our fleet will enable us to commit these assets to existing and new full-service contract mining operations in line with our mining division delivery model.”

Meanwhile, Stanmore has concluded that the Isaac Plains Underground Mining Project (IPUMP) project is feasible, providing they can increase port and wash plant capacity.

For about a year Stanmore has been examining a proposal to exploit a measured and indicated resource (JORC) of more than 21 million tonnes in the Eastern part of the Isaac Plains mining lease using continuous miners, shuttle cars, and mobile bolters.

It is unclear what the positive conclusion to the feasibility process means for Mackay based contractor Mastermyne. They had early contractor involvement in the iPUMP project, which they hoped would translate into contract work when it concluded.

Civeo on the hunt The Bowen Basin’s biggest bed provider has expanded its operations into Western Australia with the acquisition of catering and managed services business Action Industrial Catering (AIC).

Civeo (Formerly the Mac Services Group) has accommodation complexes in Dysart, Coppabella, Middlemount, Moranbah, Nebo, and Calliope, and more than 33 resources accommodation complexes worldwide providing more than 30,000 rooms.

Either party has not released the terms of the deal, although CIVEO CEO Bradley J. Dodson says the purchase gives them access to the booming Iron Ore market in Western Australia.

“The acquisition significantly enhances Civeo Australia’s service offering and geographic footprint by providing an entry point into the growing integrated services opportunities in the Western Australian remote mining market,” he said.

“AIC currently operates approximately 900,000 room nights per year for leading iron

ore, gold, nickel and battery mineral producers.

“This acquisition brings contract visibility and strong relationships with top tier customers in Western Australia who are poised to benefit significantly from market trends, including expansionary projects in Western Australian iron ore and increasing global demand for lithium-ion batteries.

“Our acquisition of AIC underlines our focus on pursuing growth opportunities that fit within our core competencies and strategic direction, while further enabling organic growth opportunities.

“Importantly, we are well-positioned to continue to capitalize on opportunities to grow our catering and managed services footprint in Australia as we maintain our commitment to top-tier service for all of our customers.”

CIVEO also has two accommodation complexes in Kambalda and Karratha in Western Australia.

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Puzzles

CROSS WORD

SODOKU

Across

Down

1. Shook with cold 5. Craving for drink 9. Prehistoric creature 10. Grease star, … NewtonJohn 12. Revolving entrance gate 13. Altercations (3-2) 14. Haul 16. Early settler 19. Advertising backer 21. Mackerel or trout 24. Clear-headed 25. Highway repairs 27. King’s chair 28. Sleeveless overdress 29. Brother or ...

30. Discouraged

1. Administer an anaesthetic to 2. Take no notice of 3. Alleviates 4. Evading (capture) 6. Very funny 7. Took vengeance 8. Team coaches 11. Profound 15. Abode 17. Puts in quarantine 18. Orchestral performances 20. Scarce 21. Easily broken 22. Knight’s protection 23. Climb 26. Large ocean mammal

Across: 1 Shivered 5. Thirst 9. Dinosaur 10. Olivia 12. Turnstile 13. Runin 7.

14.Drag 16. Pioneer 19.Sponsor 21.Fish 24. Lucid 25. Roadwork 27. Throne 28.

Pinafore 29. Sister 30. Deterred Down: 1. Sedate 2. Ignore 3. Eases 4. Eluding 6. Hilarious 7. Revenged 8.

Trainers 11. Deep 15. Residence 17. Isolates 18. Concerts 20. Rare 21. Fragile 22. Armour 23. Ascend 26. Whale

THE “GREATEST AUSTRALIAN IN THE CRIB ROOM” QUIZ. 1. How many ships were in the First Fleet?

2. What year did Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin?

3. Who invented the bionic ear?

4. Where was Ned Kelly’s last stand?

5. Who was Australia’s first Aboriginal Senator?

6. What date did “new” parliament house open?

7. Which Australian promised to “Go all the way with LBJ”?

8. In what year was gold first discovered in Victoria and NSW to begin the “Gold Rush”?

9. Which Australian won a Nobel Prize for immune defence research?

10. In what year was decimal currency introduced?

1.11 2. 1974 3. Professor Graeme Clark 4. Glenrowan5. Neville Bonner6. 9th May, 1988 7. Prime Minister, Harold Holt 8. 1851 9. Professor Peter Doherty 10. 1966

ANSWERS

24 August 2019

Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com

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THE BEST PLACE TO FIND GOOD GEAR

CAR FOR SALE

CAR FOR SALE

CAR FOR SALE

CAR FOR SALE

2014 TOYOTA SPACE CAB HILUX

66 CADDILAC CONVERTIBLE

EJ HOLDEN SPECIAL

1975 FORD LTD

Approx 110k on the clock. Diesel, Brand new Duel battery set up, TJM bullbar and side rails. HID Spotlights, Heavy duty Steel Tray with underbody toolboxes and tie-down points.

2 doors, 429 big blocks, Air con, Heated and cruise control. All in beautiful condition. The convertible top raises at the switch in drivers control. Beautiful wire wheels and new whitewall tires just fitted.

Unfinished project. Motor rebuilt 202 stage 3 high compression head. Little rust in usual spots. New parts brake master cylinder brake wheel cylinder brake lines.

Clutch, boot rubbers, boot and floor carpet.

Purchased from the 2nd owner 10 years ago. Motor needed a freshen up. Rebuilt to std spec. 1st oversized pistons. 4MA Crank still factory sizes. Changed cam grind for a little more urge down low.

Call: 0450 784 900

Call: 0478 364 959

Call: 0418 770 756

Call: 0419 798 263

CAR FOR SALE

TRUCK FOR SALE

$ 39,000

$ 29,000

$ 8,000

CAR FOR SALE

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FORD FALCON XA XC SEDAN

$ 36,990

2014 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER UTE

FORD F700

2 x 500 XC 4 door sedans - 6 cylinders.

1 is running and driveable with working factory air. Other, stripped and restoration commenced-missing motor and box. Offers over $8000 considered for the two vehicles.

Remote Central Locking-Cruise ControlFront & Rear Factory Diff Lock-Air Bag & Compressor-Underbody Toolbox & Water tank-L.E.D Spotlights-3”Stainless ExhaustHeavy Duty Clutch-U.H.F Radio-RWC

Ford F700 Tipping Tray removable sides.

351, 5 speed & 2-speed diff. A solid original truck from South West Queensland, surface rust and some dents, no rust in panels seen.

Call: 0427 227 612

Call: 0417 649 624

Call: 0417 717 232

MOTORHOME FOR SALE

CARAVAN FOR SALE

$ 21,000

$ 62,000

TRUCK FOR SALE

BUS FOR SALE

$ 3,500

WATER TRUCK

1998 INTERNATIONAL/ IVECO DELTA BUS

MOTORHOME

KEDRON TOP ENDER

Mine spec water cart for sale hyd driven pump cannon batter sprays dribble bar three rear sprays new brakes and drums new tires.

Custom Coaches Body. 57 belted seats, AC (new seats & a/c retro-fitted 5years ago at the cost of $60000) 12m long, flat floor.

Perkins turbo diesel engine (rear) 6-speed synchro gearbox. Airbag suspension.

Unfinished project. 1983 Leyland Leopard.

38’ length. Mechanically very sound.

New fuel pump, new front tires. Passed a roadworthy, however I didn’t register it as I didn’t use it often so the roadworthy expired

This van has always been garaged little use is in excellent condition. Fully self contained.

We are downgrading to smaller van bit easier for the wife! Great van exceptionally

$ 70,000

$ 40,000

.

$ 6,500

made, the gall boys do a great job.

$ 67,500

Call: 0749 543 155

Call: 0439 888 618

Call: 455 689 619

Call: 0407 794 279

CARAVAN FOR SALE

CARAVAN FOR SALE

CARAVAN FOR SALE

TRAILER FOR SALE

JAYCO EXPANDA OUTBACK 16.49-3

2013 EXPANDA OUTBACK

FULL ALUM. CUSTOM HALF CANOPY

GUARDIAN SUV GT MEGA SLIDEOUT

Late 2017 model, one of the last of this layout to be built! Still under warranty!Sleeps up to 4 adults 2 kids, Built-in shower/toilet, Reverse cycle air conditioner, 150L Dometic 3 way fridge/freezer, Hot water system.

Jayco 17.56.2 Excellent condition. Sleeps 6 in comfort (queen bed and double bed with innerspring mattresses), double bunk (converts into the second dinette), bathroom with shower, toilet, and vanity.

Clearview 220 plus fridge slide builtin. Adjustable spare wheel brackets x2.Powder-coated black outside, grey inside.4x vents in the canopy, 1 in each corner. Single 90kg draw system.

200W Solar panels, Smarttek Black Hot Water System, Camper Cover, Portable Toilet and Spare 65mm 3 Tonne Bolt-on Stub Axle.

Call: 0429 645 149

Call: 0402 336 306

Call: 0749 363 074

$ 46,000

Call: 0447 200 281

.

$ 38,000

$ 12,000

$ 25,995

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THE BEST PLACE TO FIND GOOD GEAR

TRAILER FOR SALE

QUAD BIKE FOR SALE

QUAD BIKE FOR SALE

BIKE FOR SALE

DUAL (STRAIGHT) HORSE FLOAT

2008 CAN-AM OUTLANDER (400)

PARAMOTOR QUAD

NITROUS HAYABUSA DRAG BIKE

Completely refurbished. Brand new set tires with new rims (incl spare). New marine ply flooring and side panels and ramp, wiring, electric brakes, axles and suspension. Full blast and repaint.

4x4 Quad, always been serviced at the cam-am dealer, low hours (14hrs), bull-bar with wrap-around side rails, mount for the light bar, my mate brought it to brand new and I’ve only put 2hrs on it since owning.

Lowboy ll Quad and Medium Lift wing for sale. Great condition. MZ 34 engine, spare prop. Great flying machine. Interests elsewhere so up for sale.

$ 5,999

$ 4,200

Nitrous Hayabusa drag bike, been 7.9s with mega lazy 60ft times and an only small shot of gas.. will go 7.7s as it sits and even quicker with a bigger shot of gas and some track time.

$ 8,900

Call: 0429 150 468

Call: 0401 877 327

BIKE FOR SALE

BOAT FOR SALE

2017 SPORTSTER IRON 883

QUINTREX 560 FREEDOM CRUISER

Harley Davidson still brand new 140ks stage 1 upgrade, eagle super tuner pro, eagle air intake filter, eagle air pod, vance and hines short shot pipes, hid daymaker headlight, lowering kit back and front suspension.

Quintrex freedom cruiser Wake Tower 130hp Mercruiser.

Call: 0499 608 777

Call: 0439 834 421

BOAT FOR SALE

BOAT FOR SALE

$ 13,000

Call: 0427 974 000

$ 22,000

Call: 0400 770 317 BOAT FOR SALE

Your ad here Free

1994 SEAFARER 1994 SEAFARER VSEA $7,500 ono Yeppoon, Queensland. Hull Material: Fibreglass Length - meters: 4.7 Length feet: 15.42 Cabin powered by 90 Mercury hp

$ 6,500

$ 32,000

Call: 0414 559 125 BOAT FOR SALE

BOAT FOR SALE

2001 LEWIS EXCEL 1850 SKI BOAT

2007 BLUEFIN BOWRIDER 5.25

6.1M HAMMERHEAD BOAT 2015

435 JABIRU PRO

5.7L Mercruiser, 260hp Velvet Drive - F/N/ REasy to dual axle trailer192hrs Boat Registered until 9/2019 Trailer Registered until 5/2020 Duckboard/swim deck.

Bluefin plate boat90hp etec 110 hrsLowrance hds 7 sounder with east coast mapsDual batteriesElectric winch.

50 h Yamaha four-stroke Lawrence 9 elite total scan front cast deck been converted to one full aluminum pate live bait tank converted to aluminum ape fifty liters etc.

$ 18,000

$ 21,000

Custom Built, Centre Console, Plate Boat with 5mm Bottom and 4mm Sides 200HP Suzuki 4-cylinder Lean Burn with 1 Garmin Engine Fuel Management System (digital gauges) 237 hours-270-liter fuel tank.

$ 69,900

$ 12,500

Call: 0409 760 919

Call: 0401 549 431

Call: 0488 660 518

Call: 0447 141 673

BOAT FOR SALE

BOAT FOR SALE

BOAT FOR SALE

DRILLING RIG FOR SALE

2008 20HP YAMAHA BARRA BOAT

4.1M ALUMINIUM BOAT

STACER 449 SEAWAY 2016 MODEL

RFW DRILLING RIG - REFURBISHED

Last serviced in April 2019. Watersnake Electric outboard and marine battery 12 mnths old Electric winch false bottom and casting deck Canopy and swivel seats Echosounder2 life jackets and safety gear

Haines Hunter Boat & Trailer. Was $3,450 REDUCED FOR QUICK SALE Registered till 15/01/2020. Yamaha 25 motor (recently fully serviced) Boat cover (brand new unused).

43 hours only full-service history. With a 50 hp mercury 4 stroke engine. Underfloor 52ltr fuel tank. Epirb. GME 700 marine radio.

Bimimi. Lowrance HDS carbon 7. Inshore safety gear 2 life jackets rear bench seat.

RFW 4WD Truck Vin No. 45316344 - 4 Cly GM Motor Engine No. 50435001 HD16S127 - Rotary Drill driven by 6354 Perkins on Hydraulics - 11 Rods x 4.6m and 6 1/2” Hammer. In very good condition.

Call: 049 105 367

Call: 0451 835 600

Call: 0448 745 176

$ 3,600

$ 2,750

$ 17,000

$ 90,000

Call: 0447 739 611

SELL YOUR ITEMS FOR FREE. BECOME A SUBSCRIBER 26 August 2019

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THE BEST PLACE TO FIND GOOD GEAR

DOZER FOR SALE

DOZER FOR SALE

TAIL SHAFT FOR SALE

BATTERIES FOR SALE

CATERPILLAR D7 DOZERS

CATERPILLAR 46A D8

80 SERIES FRONT TAIL SHAFT

4X N150 EXIDE BATTERIES

I have for sale 2 by Caterpillar D7 Dozers, one fully hydraulic and one cable drive with turbo. Also, have 600ft of an inch and a half to the two-inch pulling chain. Hydraulic machine has been completely rebuilt

Power shift bull tilt blade, rippers, last of the 8h’s compact fuel pump pinned equalizer bar, 7 roller track frames, full-length canopy, engine covers, A/C cab, new radiator, 6000h on engine and converter.

For front diff ( from transfer case to front diff) Second hand, painted up, no play in uni joints. 775mm long. Selling because it doesn’t fit in a full time 4x4 80 series. .

Brand new, brought for a job but never used, 100 each.

Call: 0427 263 696

Call: 0438 935 188

Call: 0418 108 333

Call: 0447 011 684

MOWER FOR SALE

ENGINE FOR SALE

$ 25,000

$ 100,000

KOMBI SHELL FOR SALE

Your ad here Free

$ 200

$ 400

SELF PROPELLED MOWER

VOLVO TD70E ENGINE

1974 Kombi Rolling Shell.

Self-propelled mower - “Red Roo”.

$ 2,250

Price on Application

Volvo td70e turbo 6 cyl diesel engine. Full ground-up rebuild and painted. All genuine parts. New radiator. Header tank. Clutch kit. Lots spent on it. Came out of an n715 prime mover.

KOMBI ROLLING SHELL

Call: 0429 008 581 FUEL TANK FOR SALE

GENERATOR FOR SALE

$ 8,990

Call: 0428 512 798

Call: 0418 780 314

HOSES FOR SALE

DETECTORS FOR SALE

FUEL TANK

GENERATOR

IRRIGATION SYPHON HOSES

MINELAB SDC2300 & GPX4500

90-liter aluminum fuel tank, 3mm thick made at MAI Mackay tank is around 5 years old, 1050 L x 430 W x 210 HSelling as I have upgraded to a larger capacity tank.

The new generator I paid $26000 we bought it for a job and were able to get by without using it it’s talking up shed spare first to see will bye 0488200836

Loads of irrigation syphon hoses for sale.

Must take all. Emerald Queensland.

$ 19,000

$ 500

I have two for sale $3290 one year old one with hard case, $3190 for older sdc2300 with minelab carry bag, gpx4500 under minelab warranty still with near new nuggetfinder coil and two minelab coils

Call: 043 7631 421

Call: 0488 200 836

CHARGER FOR SALE

CAMERA FOR SALE

$ 500

Call: 0428 512 798

$ 2,950

Call: 0436 295 588

DELAY PEDAL FOR SALE MINING CLAIMS FOR SALE

REDARC BCDC1225D

OLYMPUS UNDERWATER CAMERA

T-REX REPLICA DELAY

2 MINING CLAIMS

Brand new Redarc BCDC1225D Battery Charger. Was put in my car by an auto electrician for charging my caravan battery but not needed. Paid $475.

Olympus OMD-EM10 camera and nauticam housing, Camera and housing are in new condition with a brand new 60mm Macro lens, sola photo light, Inon D200 strobe, Inon snoot and a pelican hard case.

Vintage echo. Rare and superior delay pedal, digital with an analog sound similar to an echorec or memory man in how retains some attack and grit in the repeats without washing out.

2/30x30 adjourned claims both fenced. gated 2ox20 barn door lockable shed living.10x10 shed laundry. Shower ect solar gen.water ectall dig gear walk in walk out very little dig10 year leases starts mid2018.

Call: 0477 053 671

Call: 0413 384 986

Call: 0413 585 188

$ 400 Call: 0404 161 937

$ 2,000

$ 275

$ 35,000

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