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(Alliance News) - Anglo American PLC on Wednesday announced the commissioning of Aquila metallurgical coal mine in Central Queensland in Australia.
"Aquila mine has achieved its first longwall shear of steelmaking metallurgical coal on schedule and on budget, marking the project's final stages of construction and commissioning," the global miner said.
The Aquila mine, located near Middlemount in Central Queensland, extends the life of Anglo American's existing Capcoal underground operations by seven years, after the company's nearby Grasstree mine reached its end of life in recent weeks.
The new mine will have a total average annual saleable production of around 5 million tonnes of "premium quality" hard coking coal, Themba Mkhwanazi, chief executive of Bulk Commodities, said.
The mine will also benefit from low capital intensity as Anglo American is using the existing infrastructure and systems from its adjacent operations.
The mine features two longwalls, allowing operations to continue without the downtime that is usually required for longwall moves. Both longwalls are fully remote-capable and will be sequentially operated from a site-based remote operations centre on the surface of the mine.
Anglo American's Capcoal complex comprises Capcoal open cut mine, Grasstree mine, Aquila mine, the Coal handling & preparation plant and associated infrastructure.
Aquila is owned 70% by Anglo American and 30% by Tokyo-headquartered conglomerate Mitsui & Co Ltd, which operates in numerous sectors including: energy, machinery, chemicals, food, textile and logistics.
Anglo American shares were down 0.8% to 3,460.50 pence each in London on Wednesday morning, and were down 0.6% to ZAR720.93 each in Johannesburg.
By Greg Roxburgh; gregroxburgh@alliancenews.com
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