A Bowen Basin mine made history last month as the first in Australia to deploy an advanced high wall mining system to extract coal with cutting-edge efficiency.
Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last joined Vitrinite staff and community leaders to mark the first use of the company’s HW300 Highwall Miner at its Vulcan South mine near Dysart.
The HW300 Highwall Miner provides access to coal seams that traditional methods cannot reach, improving operational safety, reducing production costs, and minimising land disturbance.
Vitrinite’s Vulcan South mine is an open-cut operation that produces steel-making coal with the mine expected to produce almost 2 million tonnes per annum of metallurgical coal and support around 450 jobs at peak in 2027.
Minister Last said he was proud to see a Queensland mine leading the nation with innovative technology that improved safety and boosts regional job opportunities.
“The HW300 Highwall Miner is a major leap forward for safety, efficiency and environmental impact reduction,” Minister Last said.
“It also reinforces Queensland’s reputation as a global leader in mining innovation.”
“This investment is not only improving the productivity of the operation but is also creating skilled employment opportunities for Central Queensland.
“It is a vote of confidence in Queensland’s resources sector, and a vote of confidence in the Crisafulli Government’s agenda to support new and expanded mining opportunities across the state.
“Queensland is open for business, and the Crisafulli Government is committed to supporting innovation that secures long-term opportunities for the state’s mining industry.”
Vitrinite Chief Operating Officer Michael Callan said there were only about 90 HW300 Highwall Miners in operation around the world.
“Today marks the culmination of six years of research on the high-wall mining method, the HW300 unit and our resource conditions,” Mr Callan said.
“The HW300 offers several key benefits for Queensland including reduced environmental impact, lower cost-efficient mining and enhanced safety and productivity.
“We're very proud to have the first dedicated unit in Australia and give this extraction method the dedicated focus it deserves.”
The first coal extraction from the HWM300 Highwall Miner at Vitrinite’s Vulcan South mine near Dysart. Photo supplied: Office of Dale Last Member for Burdekin
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