9 February 2012

Solid Energy seeks consents for new mining block at Stockton Mine in Buller

Solid Energy has applied to the Buller District and West Coast Regional Councils for consent to develop a 5 million tonne coking coal resource at Stockton Opencast Mine north of Westport.

If its application is successful and associated permissions are obtained, the company’s current mine plan is to begin developing the Mt William North block early in 2015. That work would take a year and Mt William would contribute 500,000 tonnes a year to the mine’s output over the following decade.

Mt William North is one of several future resource blocks in the east of the Stockton area. It is north of the Cypress area, which is now being prepared for mining, and will share the water treatment, roading and other infrastructure being developed ahead of mining at Cypress. Site rehabilitation will take place progressively over the life of the mining area.

Each year Stockton produces up to 2 million tonnes of high-value coal for export to the world’s leading steelmakers. The coal on the Stockton Plateau is variable and the mining operation and associated environmental systems are complex. To fill customer orders and ensure the company can derive maximum value from the plateau’s remaining stocks of very high-quality coal, the mine blends coals from a number of mining blocks.

This integrated mining method will allow Solid Energy’s reserves at Stockton to produce at around current levels for another 20 years. To support this, the company must continually prove up and bring forward new coal resources such as the Mt William North block.

Solid Energy’s General Manager Environment, Mark Pizey, says: “Water management and treatment systems to support the development of Stockton’s eastern resource blocks are expected to complement work in the Mangatini Stream catchment. As well as treating water from mining areas, these new systems will treat water which for many years has been flowing through the historic Fly Creek Underground Mine workings.”

ENDS

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