Project data
Overview
Thiess has operated Mt Owen Mine, our largest coal mining operation in New South Wales, since 1995 under successive contracts.
The strata recognition system on Thiess drills is the longest running anywhere in the world.
Following the construction of the mine by Thiess in 1994, mining operations commenced the following year, with Thiess continuously undertaking all mining activities including mine planning, design and execution, drill and blast, overburden removal, coal mining services and rehabilitation, which continues to this day.
Mt Owen’s deposit is complex, comprising multiple seams of coal dipping up to 45 degrees, with mined thickness between 0.4 and 11 metres. Thiess also mines to a depth of 270 metres below the surface, with the challenge of minimising truck hours and maintaining ‘mass balance’ on site to ensure enough dump space for the overburden.
To overcome these complexities, our technical team created ‘Dump Planner’ software. This allows the mine planning team to run a range of scenarios and develop a mine plan that increases plant hours and scheduling, and achieves mass balance. In addition, the team has developed industry-leading specialised terrace mining and through-seam blasting techniques, leading to higher reserve recovery.
The Thiess fleets have operated through all conditions over the years, with a strong and committed focus on the asset management and maintenance of both client-owned and Thiess equipment. The strata recognition system on Thiess drills is the longest running anywhere in the world, a credit to the team that drives ongoing innovation to keep at the forefront of the mining industry.
Environmental performance at Mt Owen has been outstanding. In 2012, we launched an industry-first study into the movement of the Spotted Tail (Tiger) quoll, which is helping our team provide sustainable solutions such as artificial habitat structures and feeding sites. The site engineers, surveyors, production, and environmental personnel have delivered over 500ha of quality rehabilitation over the last 25 years – a lasting contribution that has enhanced the pre-mining agricultural landscape and is now important habitat for a wide variety of native birds and wildlife.
Related Resources
20 November 2024 | Community engagement in Queensland’s Bowen Basin
22 December 2022 | Thiess celebrates 28 years at Mt Owen
22 September 2022 | Thiess secures $140m Mt Owen increase
14 September 2021 | Celebrating 25 years at Mt Owen Mine
25 years at Mt Owen
