Description

Beltana Underground Operations are located approximately 12 kilometres southwest of Singleton, 1 kilometre north of Broke and 1.5 kilometres east of Bulga, in the Upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales. The Beltana Operations form part of the Bulga Complex and are managed by Bulga Coal Management Pty Limited on behalf of the Bulga Joint Venture (BJV). The BJV ownership comprises Saxonvale Coal Pty Limited which holds an 87.5% share with the remaining 12.5% held by Nippon Steel Australia Pty Limited. Saxonvale Coal Pty Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Oakbridge Pty Limited of which Xstrata Coal Pty Limited owns 78% with the remainder held by Tomen Corporation (5%), Nippon Oil (15.2%) and Kawasho Corporation (1.8%).

The Beltana Operations comprises one existing underground Longwall coal mining operation, Beltana Highwall and the Beltana Blakefield South Project. Each operation is managed by the Bulga Underground business unit and utilise the services of the Bulga Surface Operations Coal Handling and Preparation Plant (CHPP) and rail loading facility.

During 2006, the Beltana Operations employed a workforce of 170 people. During 2006, the Underground Operations completed the longwall extraction for longwall blocks 5, 6 and approximately one third of longwall 7.

Brief history of the operation

Coal Mining at the Bulga Complex was first undertaken by BHP in 1982, this operation, known as the Saxonvale Mine. BHP continued to operate the Saxonvale Mine until 1988, when ownership was transferred to Elders Resources. Oakbridge Pty Limited acquired the Saxonvale Mine from Elders Resources in 1989. Production was expanded to 5.2 Mtpa in 1990.