Ironbark No. 1 Coal Mine

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The Ironbark No. 1 coal mine (formerly known as the Ellensfield Coal Project) is an underground longwall mine 30 kilometres north-east of Moranbah, in the Bowen Basin, Central Queensland, Australia.[1] The mine is owned and operated by Fitzroy Australia Resources, which is backed by US investment firms Riverstone and AMCI.

As of January 2023, first longwall coal was achieved from the mine.[2]

Fitzroy Resources Australia also plan to construct a gas-fired power plant (up to 20MW) to power the mine.[3]

Location

The satellite image below shows the approximate location of the mine in Central Queensland, Australia.

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Background

Ironbark would become the first new development from a group of assets Fitzroy acquired from Brazilian mining giant, Vale, in November 2016.[4]

The project, which neighbors Carborough Downs mine, was approved in October 2018.[5]

The Ironbark No. 1 operation achieved first coal in August 2022 (just seven months after commencing construction in January 2022) and first longwall coal in January 2023.[6][2]

At full production, Ironbark No. 1 is expected to produce up to 6 million tonnes per annum run of mine (ROM) coal, mostly hard coking coal.[7]

After coal is extracted, it is washed at the Fitzroy Mining Operation’s Coal Handling Preparation Plant, then sent to Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal for shipment to customers worldwide.[8]

Ironbark No. 1 is expected to have a 25-year life.[9]

Project Details

  • Operator: Fitzroy Mining Operations
  • Owner: Fitzroy Australia Resources[10]
  • Location: 30 kilometres north-east of Moranbah and 125 kilometres south-west of Mackay, Central Queensland[1]
  • GPS Coordinates: -21.97648262, 148.23465305 (approximate)
  • Status: Proposed (Construction)
  • Production Capacity: 6 Mtpa[11]
  • Total Resource:
  • Mineable Reserves: 380 million tonnes (66 million tonnes proved)[12]
  • Coal type: Coking coal and thermal coal[13]
  • Mine Size: 1000 hectares[14]
  • Mine Depth: 400 m[15]
  • Mine Type: Underground, longwall mining
  • Start Year: 2020[4]
  • Source of Financing:

Articles and resources

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Fitzroy Australia Resources, "The Business", Fitzroy Australia Resources website, accessed 30 October 2019.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "First Coal! Congratulations to the Ironbark No.1 team and the wider Fitzroy Mining Operations' business", Fitzroy Australia website, 13 January 2023.
  3. Fitzroy Australia Resources, "Ironbark No.1 Coal Mine Project Initial Development Plan", Fitzroy Australia Resources website, page 3, 25 October 2017.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Fitzroy Australia Resources, "Fitzroy targets inexperienced mine workers for Ironbark No.1", Fitzroy Australia Resources website, 14 December 2018.
  5. Steve Zeppa, "Ironbark No. 1 mine in Queensland approved", Mesca News, 31 October 2018
  6. "Operations: Ironbark No.1", Fitzroy Australia Resources website, accessed April 2023.
  7. "New Ironbark No.1 coal mine taking shape", Northern Stevedoring Services website, 10 May 2022.
  8. "Another milestone for our Ironbark No.1 operation", Fitzroy Australia Resources website, 13 January 2023.
  9. Fitzroy Australia Resources, "New life for Bowen Basin coal sites", Fitzroy Australia Resources website, 9 December 2017
  10. Fitzroy Australia Resources, "The owners", Fitzroy Australia Resources website, accessed 30 October 2019.
  11. Fitzroy Australia Resources, "Ironbark on track to start producing coal by Q1 2020", Fitzroy Australia Resources website, 23 September 2018.
  12. Fitzroy Australia Resources, "Ironbark No.1 Coal Mine Project Initial Development Plan", Fitzroy Australia Resources website, page 30, 25 October 2017.
  13. Fitzroy Australia Resources, "Ironbark on track to start producing coal by Q1 2020", Fitzroy Australia Resources website, page 29 23 September 2018.
  14. Department of Environment and Heritage and Protection, "Ellensfield Coal Mine Project Environmental Impact Statement Assessment Report Adequacy of the EIS in addressing the TOR", page 3, State of Queensland, December 2012.
  15. Fitzroy Austrailia Resources, Ironbark 1 Coal Mine Project Intial Development Plan, October 25, 2017

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