Centennial Coal"s Mandalong mine, one of its central coast (New South Wales - Australia) operations, started production in January last year.

It is Centennial"s newest operation using latest technology, with an excellent track record (more than 500,000 tonnes achieved in July).

Now the mine is moving to wider longwall faces next year. However, expansion is constrained by current development capacity.

A Newstan development unit has relocated to Mandalong, replacing contractors and a second Newstan development unit will be relocated to Mandalong on completion of gate roads for LW24 - which will see the end of longwall mining at Newstan.

Newstan longwall equipment will be relocated reducing change-over times. Production at Mandalong will ramp up to 5 million tonnes annually in 2009.

A link road will be constructed to join the existing Newstan - Eraring haul road, providing Mandalong with access to Newstan's coal preparation plant and rail loading facilities, 25kms from Newcastle port. www.centennialcoal.com.au

Feasibility study into Mt Pleasant project

Coal & Allied has commenced a feasibility study into its 100% owned Mount Pleasant project's potential development. Mount Pleasant is adjacent to the Bengalla mine near Muswellbrook in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia. Coal & Allied managing director Douglas Ritchie says the feasibility study is expected to take about 12 months to complete.

Douglas Ritchie says: "We have a long history in the Hunter Valley and we will continue to work with the community to understand and manage our impacts and to implement programs which make a positive contribution, both in the short and long term. As part of our ongoing focus on sustainable development, all aspects of the proposed operation would be considered to maximize energy efficiency, manage water use and reduce impacts on our neighbours." The Mount Pleasant project has received development approval.

Coal & Allied obtained an authority over the Mount Pleasant resource in April 1992. Exploration, mining studies and an environmental impact statement (EIS) were completed in 1997. After a 26-month process involving extensive community consultation and a Commission of Inquiry, development consent was granted in 1999 allowing an opencut operation of up to 10.5 million tonnes annually of run of mine (ROM) coal over a 21-year life. A pre-feasibility study started in 2002 to assess a number of mining options. The mining lease covers 3300 ha and contains approximately 450 million tonnes of coal recoverable by open cut mining. www.coalandallied.com.au

Approval process continues for Anvil Hill opencut mine

Centennial Coal continues to progress the approval processes for the Anvil Hill opencut mine. During 2006, Centennial lodged its project application and supporting enviromental assessment for Anvil Hill with the NSW Government (Australia).

Anvil Hill has measured, indicated and inferred coal resources in excess of 500 million tonnes. These are shallow, low strip ratio opencut reserves. The mine will have low-sulphur domestic and export thermal coal products. Its Hunter Valley location provides all key infrastructure. Centennial is seeking approval to mine up to 10.5 million tonnes per year and has a 30 million tonne, 12-year domestic sales contract in place. www.centennialcoal.com.au

News sourced from International Mining Project News - www.im-mining.com