The longwall system, a new mining equipment, is part of a $401m expansion of the mine. The mine which was expanded from a bord and pillar operation to longwall, is expected to produce 4.9 million tonnes per annum.
With Tiefenbach electro-hydraulic control systems, the roof support system contains 149 1200-tonne capacity Tagor roof supports that have a working height of 3.5-5.3m.
Inbye Mining Systems has supplied the 300m armoured face conveyor and beam stage loader. The conveyor and beam stage loader can clear 4500t of coal per hour. The Eickhoff SL1000 shearer, which can cut up to 4500tph, is said to be the first SL1000 model installed in Australia.
Carborough Downs is an underground mine operated by Carborough Downs Coal Management and owned 80% by Vale. Its joint venture partners are Tata Steel (5%), Nippon Steel Corporation (5%), POSCO (5%), JFE Steel (2.5%) and JFE Shoji (2.5%).
Carborough Downs Coal Mine, started its production in August 2006 as one of the new coking coal projects in the State of Queensland, Australia. Since commencement of the production, while continuing its underground operation at small scale, Carborough Downs joint venture (JV) has studied the development option by Longwall method toward larger scale operation.
