South African media IOL reported that Australian listed exploration and development company Continental Coal‚ which has operations in SA‚ is making progress in completing its third thermal coal mining operation.

The company said “Development activities at the Penumbra Coal Mine continued in May 2012 with the primary focus continuing to be the advance of the twin declines by the decline development contractor‚ Murray & Roberts.”

According to the company‚ Murray & Roberts advanced the twin decline development a further 98 meter‚ an increase on the 58 meter achieved in April.

Other activities at the Penumbra Coal Mine site included the awarding of civil and building contracts to supply and erect the prefabricated buildings‚ stores and workshops on site.

In addition tenders were closed for the water reticulation system‚ water treatment plant and main ventilation fan. The low voltage ventilation fan substation design and quote was also received.

The company added that construction commenced for the 630kVA and 1250kVA transformers and containerised medium voltage substations‚ both of which are scheduled for completion in June.

The Penumbra Coal Mine will be the company’s third thermal coal mining operation in South Africa. Development commenced in September 2011‚ with excavation of the box cut to a depth of 18 mwtwrs‚ followed by development of the twin declines with the first blast in the decline completed in early February 2012. The twin declines are being developed at a 1:7 inclination from the high wall. The declines will each have a length of approximately 390 meters.
One of the declines will be equipped with a conveyor and the second serving as a trackless equipment traveling route. The declines will also serve as the ventilation intakes of the mine.

Two mechanised continuous miner production sections and one stone development section are planned.

Continental plans to produce 750‚000 tonnes per annum of ROM coal that will be beneficiated through the existing Delta Processing Operations‚ which comprises a 1.8 million tonne per annum coal processing plant and the 1.2 million tonne per annum Anthra Rail Siding. Sales of 500‚000 tonnes per annum of a high quality export thermal coal are forecast to commence in the fourth quarter of the year.

Source - iol.co.za

(www.coalguru.com)