South Walker Creek
Dragline in use at South Walker Creek
South Walker Creek is a contract mining operation owned by BHP Mitsui Coal. It commenced as a trial mine in 1995 to develop low volatile, high energy coals for the growing PCI market. The first washed coal was produced in July 1996, and the first shipment of South Walker Creek coal was made in August 1996.
Annual production has increased to 3.5 million tonnes of marketable coal, which is suitable for Pulverised Coal Injection (PCI). Low volatile high energy coals are sourced from the main seam which forms part of the Upper Permian Rangal Coal Measures. Further expansions are under way to take the mine to a production rate of 4.3 million tonnes per annum.
South Walker Creek Mine is located on the eastern flank of the Bowen Basin, 35km west of the town of Nebo and 132km south west of the Hay Point port facilities.
South Walker Creek is an open cut mine with overburden removed by a single dragline, 2 excavators and 7 rear dump trucks. Coal is processed in a 600 tonnes per hour modular coal processing plant incorporating a dense medium cyclone and fine coal spirals.
Markets for South Walker Creek coal have been developed in Europe, Japan and Brazil.
Recent Events:
- Achieved a recordable injury frequency rate of 5.2, a 76 per cent improvement
- Exceeded target for coal production
- Opened the Bidgerley Learning Centre to be used for cultural awareness training and passing on traditional learning