Stanmore Resources’ Isaac Downs extension project stacks up in terms of technical feasibility and economic viability, prefeasibility work shows.
The low-capital project offers a mine life of 20-plus years producing up to 4 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) ROM.
Stanmore Resources today released its maiden reserves statement for the planned metallurgical coal mine, showing 52Mt ROM coal reserves including 34Mt of marketable coal reserves.
The company noted high reserve confidence, with 75 per cent proved coal reserves and 25 per cent probable coal reserves.
Stanmore chief executive officer and executive director Marcelo Matos described this as an important milestone for the project, which provided further confidence around reserve definition and the various options to ensure the company maximised returns to shareholders.
Related: Stanmore Resources lays out project priorities
Earlier this year, the Bowen Basin miner flagged its intention to have all approvals signed off on the project, previously known as Isaac South, by the end of 2027.
Mr Matos said at the time the company hoped to be able to minimise the disruption between mining activity at the current Isaac Downs operation reaching its economic limits and the ramp-up of the extension project.
A strip-mining method was selected as the basis for the prefeasibility options study for the extension project based on the geological characterisation of the deposit.
A 600t excavator will mine the upper waste horizons and a smaller 400t excavator will mine the coal to minimise coal dilution and losses.
Dragline, dozer push and cast blasting will be used in the lower overburden horizons.
Stanmore said coal mined at the project would be hauled via road trains to the existing Isaac Plains Coal Handling and Preparation Plant (CHPP) for processing.
The project will include construction of a bridge across the Isaac River to enable that coal haulage.
Stanmore holds prerequisite mineral tenure for mining lease applications for the project, with environmental and social studies underway.
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