Burton Coal Mine

Thiess operated the life-of-mine contract at Burton Coal Mine from 1996. The introduction of world-first mining plant and equipment boosted production by 30 per cent.

Thiess managed all aspects of the Burton Coal Mine operations, including statutory mine management, engineering and design, drill and blast, overburden removal and rehabilitation. We also operated and maintained a 2 module ~5.6 Mtpa capacity coal handling and production plant and train load-out facilities, and construct and operate water containment.

In 2010, Thiess introduced to Burton the world’s first and largest Liebherr mining backhoe excavator – the 800t Liebherr R9800. Our team designed this machine in consultation with Liebherr to increase lifting capacity to 75 metric tonnes. Operations at the mine continue to maintain a coal feed rate of 3.5 to 4.5 Mtpa.

In addition to exceeding production targets, our Burton Coal team:

• Sponsored the Australia-first introduction of eye-gaze technology to open up a whole new world of learning for special needs students at the Mackay District Special School
• Provided 10 Indigenous women with the opportunity to enter non-traditional roles in mining, through our Women in Hard Hats program
• Formed an affiliation with the local TAFE to provide quality training for project team members, and
• Achieved a record 500+ hectares of world-class rehabilitation over 12 months.

Awards

• 2012 Peabody Energy, Most Improved Mine Safety Performance
• 2011 Queensland Resources Council (QRC) Resources Awards for Women, Best Company Initiative for the Indigenous Women in Hard Hats program