Xstrata Coal Approves Ulan West Project


Xstrata has approved the investment of $1.1 billion to develop the Ulan West underground thermal coal mine in the central west of New South Wales, Australia. The new longwall mine will produce 6.7 million mt/y of export thermal coal, with a life of mine of approximately 18 years. Situated within the existing Ulan mine complex, Ulan West will complement the Ulan No. 3 underground mine and use some of the existing infrastructure at the Ulan complex. Subject to the receipt of a Development Approval and other government environmental approvals, construction of the mine is expected to commence in late 2010, with the first longwall coal to be extracted in 2014.
As featured in Womp 2010 Vol 07 - www.womp-int.com