SIMEC's Tahmoor mine moves forward with EIS
World Coal, Monday, 28 January 2019 09:02
SIMEC Mining's Tahmoor South project has taken another major step forward with the project's environmental impact statement (EIS) out for public exhibition on 23 January. The project will keep the mine operating for an additional 13 years providing continued employment for the mine's 390 people, having previously been scheduled for closure in 2022.
The NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) has placed the Tahmoor South project on public exhibition following DPE's initial review of the EIS. This found that the EIS provides an adequate assessment of the potential impacts and benefits of the project; enabling it to proceed to the next stage of the government approval process.
The Tahmoor South project EIS has been under development and review for over six years and represents a thorough analysis of the project's environmental effect on the region.
Tahmoor mine commenced operations in 1979 and had been subject to a number of ownership changes. In April 2018, it was purchased by SIMEC Mining – a part of the Gupta Family Group (GFG) Alliance – to be a supplier of high quality metallurgical coal to GFG's Liberty Steel operations in Whyalla.
SIMEC Mining's Chief Operating Officer Matt Reed said: "The Tahmoor operations have limited coal resource remaining in current approved mining areas. The Tahmoor South project will see mining operations move to the southern part of existing leases.
"SIMEC already owns iron ore operations in the Middleback Ranges of South Australia, and with the Tahmoor mine providing the high quality metallurgical coal required to make steel, we are confident that we have a business model to deliver strong results for our Australian operations. This is further bolstered through the Tahmoor South project reaching this important milestone.
"Tahmoor mine has established its environmental credentials over many years and will continue to work with the community to maintain its high standards of performance. A number of mine plan changes have been made in recent months to ensure we continue to meet this objective. A key change was to separate the proposed mining area from Metropolitan Special Areas in order that there is no mining proposed beneath Water NSW Catchment Areas.
"Set to deliver significant value to the NSW and local economies, the Tahmoor South project provides a further 13 years of employment for our current team and will provide up to 175 new positions during the construction phase of the project.
"SIMEC has a team working on securing government approvals for the project, as well as developing a business case to support investment in the Tahmoor South project.
"I am looking forward to hearing the community's views on our plans, along with any opportunities to improve what we do," said Reed.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/mining/28012019/simecs-tahmoor-mine-moves-forward-with-eis/
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