In its Q2 2024 earnings report, Bowen Coking Coal said it produced 820,000 metric tons (mt) of raw coal at the Burton complex, up 33% on the prior comparative period (pcp), making it the most successful quarter in the company’s history. This result was attributed to a low strip ratio at the Burton complex, a streamlined business model, mining from a pit close to the prep plant and record raw monthly production at Ellensfield South.
Despite unseasonable rainfall, the Burton complex produced 458,000 mt of clean coal (21% up from the pcp) and recorded total coal sales of 425,000 mt (17% up from the pcp). These production results confirm that steady-state mining, processing and sales has been achieved.
After recording 211,000 mt of raw coal during April and May at Broadmeadow East, mining was paused to the close proximity of a powerline traversing the mine. The company said plans to relocate the powerline to the southern end of the mining lease have been finalzed but await an economic solution from Powerlink.
Both 400-mt class excavators have been decommissioned and the workforce and haulage fleet were relocated to the Ellensfield South mine, around 20 km to the north. Bowen said that move allowed it to achieve steady-state mining at Ellensfield. Currently Bowen has four excavator fleets deployed at Ellensfield South.
