Washpool Hard Coking Coal ProjectWashpool Hard Coking Coal Project - Project OverviewWashpool Coal Pty Ltd (Washpool Coal) is proposing to develop the Washpool Coal Project. Washpool Coal has prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to address potential environmental, social and economic impacts from the Project. The Project involves the development of a greenfield open cut coal mine producing up to 2.6 million tonnes per annum (Mt/a) of product hard coking coal for export markets. The Washpool Coal Project is owned 100% by Washpool Coal, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aquila Resources Ltd (Aquila). Aquila is publicly listed on the Australian Stock Exchange as an exploration and mining company that owns a 50% interest in the operating Isaac Plains Coal Mine and is currently developing a number of “bulk commodity” projects in Australia, Africa and Indonesia. The proposed Project consists of the development of a greenfield open cut coal mine located within MLa 80164. If approved, construction of the Project is planned to commence in 2012 with first coal being produced in 2013. The project will include essential infrastructure such as:
The mine will be an open cut mine using a truck and electric shovel mining fleet and will ultimately dispose of dry rejects in-pit. The mine will produce up to 2.6 Mt/a of coal per year and approximately 38 million tonnes of coal over the 15 to 20 year life of the Project. The Project will be rehabilitated as per the granted Environmental Authority. Once coal is mined and processed at Washpool, the coal will be transported from the coal handling and processing plant to the train load out facility via side-tip double trailer trucks. The coal train will be located via a reclaim tunnel and load out bin directly in to each rail wagon. The trains will utilise the Blackwater rail network and travel directly to the Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal (WICET) for shipping direct to export customers. It is estimated that the Project will employ up to 307 people during the construction period, and up to 387 people during full operation of the mine. Estimated Project timeframes are shown below:
Washpool Coal Project - Location Plans
Project HistoryArgos (QLD) Pty Ltd, a wholly owned company of Aquila, was granted EPC 958 (Washpool) in June 2005. This was followed by EPC 966 (Mt Crocker) in April 2006. In 2006, Aquila completed four drill traverses spacing across EPC 958, which identified the resource. In 2007, Aquila commenced another exploration program to delineate the resource extent and target coal quality. A total of 69 holes, made up of 10 cored drill holes and 59 chip drill holes were drilled, and from this the first JORC compliant resource was established. This data was used to identify mining and logistics options and to complete the Project Concept Study in July 2009. Since then the total holes drilled has increased to approximately 175. ResourceThe initial Resource Statement for the deposit has been prepared with an estimated insitu coal resource of 185.5 million tonnes. Updated Resource and Reserves StatementWork completed by the Company during the Feasibility Study phase, which was released in May 2010, resulted in the total resource identified increasing to 185.5Mt, as follows:
The initial Reserves Statement complied by Xenith Consulting Pty Ltd, which was released at the same time, shows Proved and Probable Reserves as set out in the table below, giving an overall mine life of up to 25years.
A new Resource Statement will be released with the Definitive Feasibility Study. Photos
Public ReviewThe EIS for the Washpool Project will be on display for public review from 9 May 2011 through to close of business on 20 June 2011. The EIS will be on display at the following places:
Submissions may be made on the EIS, addressed to: The following documents relate to the Washpool Coal Project EIS and the process conducted to date.
Throughout the Project a number of community consultation newsletters and forums will be distributed and held, copies of these can be found below. For further information about the EIS process for the Washpool Coal Project please contact lmaiorana@aquilaresources.com.au Washpool Coal Project - Landscape
The information in this announcement that relates to the Resource Statement has been based on information compiled by Mr Rod Doyle, who is a full-time employee of Aquila Resources Limited. He is a qualified geologist (BSc Geology UOW 1978 and MappSc UNSW 1988) with some 30 years’ experience in coal geology, coal mining and resource evaluation. He is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and qualifies as a Competent Person under the JORC Code. Mr Doyle holds shares in Aquila Resources Limited. The Reserves Statement was prepared by Mr Ross Haupt who is a director of Xenith Consulting Pty Ltd. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Queensland with over 25 years’ experience in the open cut coal mining industry and substantial experience in mining operations. Ross Haupt is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and as such qualifies as a Competent Person under the JORC Code. Mr Doyle and Mr Haupt consent to the inclusion in the announcement of the matters based on their information in the form and context in which it appears |
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