Chain Valley Consolidation Project

From Global Energy Monitor
This article is part of the
Global Coal Mine Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.
Download full dataset
Report an error
Sub-articles:
Related-articles:

The Chain Valley Consolidation Project is a life of mine extension project to merge the Chain Valley Mine and Mannering Colliery — two underground coal mines owned by Sev.en Global Investments, in New South Wales, Australia.[1][2]

Both mines supply power to the Vales Point Power Station and the project intends to extend mining activities to 2029 in order to supply the plant until closure.[3]

Location

The satellite image below shows the location of the Chain Valley mine.

Loading map...

Background

Most recently, Delta Coal proposed an expansion plan known as the Chain Valley Consolidation Project, which calls for the consolidation of the existing Chain Valley Colliery and Mannering Colliery in able to maximize coal supplied to the neighboring Vales Point power station.[4] The Project would also allow for secondary extraction in the approved Mannering Colliery mining areas located under Lake Macquarie to maintain consistency with the existing Chain Valley Colliery consent and provide an extension of the life of mine for an additional two years to 2029.[4]

Under the original plan description, Delta Coal would retain the ability to bring coal to the surface at either the Chain Valley or Mannering pit top, retaining the current approved processing rate at Chain Valley of 1.5 Mtpa and increasing the processing rate at Mannering to 2.8 Mtpa; however applying an overall production cap of 2.8 Mtpa ROM coal to the combined operations. The overall cap is a reduction from the currently approved throughput under the current consents of 3.2 Mtpa.[4]

Based on current mine planning, an estimated 13.4 Mt ROM coal will be extracted over the period 2023 to 2029. While the extension of the life of mine by two years will only increase approved maximum production by 5.6 Mt, the economics associated with mining the approved western areas means approximately 9.5 Mt ROM of additional resources can be extracted over the life of operations relative to current operations.[4]

As of spring 2023, an EIS has been submitted and the project is in the assessment stage of approval with the New South Wales Government.[5]

It is uncertain whether or not new owner Sev.en Global Investments will continue to pursue this project.

Project Details

  • Operator: Delta Coal
  • Owner: Sev.en Global Investments</ref>[2]
  • Location: Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia[6]
  • GPS Coordinates: -33.163056, 151.55000 (exact)
  • Status: Proposed[1]
  • Capacity: 2.8 million tonnes per annum[4]
  • Total Resource:
  • Mineable Reserves:
  • Coal Type: Subbituminous (Thermal)
  • Mine Size:
  • Mine Type: Underground[1]
  • Source of Financing:

Articles and resources

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Consolidation Project, Scoping Report, Delta Coal, 2021.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Sev.en Global Investments Completes Acquisition of Delta Group", Sev.en Global Investments, 16 December 2022.
  3. Phase Two Consultation for Coal Mine Extension, Coast Community News, Sept 8, 2021
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project - Environmental Impact Statement, NSW Government Planning Portal, September 2022.
  5. Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project, New South Wales Government website, accessed March 2023.
  6. "CHAIN VALLEY," "MiningLink," accessed June 2020.

External articles