(photo: Highwall Mining Unit)

Vitrinite has signed the first contract to supply a highwall miner to support the Vulcan Mine this week with Gainwell Engineering Global Pte Ltd.

Vitrinite was the first buyer of Gainwell’s GHWM300M unit outside India and believe that the introduction of highwall mining technology will play a significant role in the future of the Australian mining industry, as it has in many other coal markets around the world, said Founder and Managing Director Nick Williams.

“These units are manufactured under license from Caterpillar, with technology developed and refined in the US mining industry over many decades,” Mr Williams said. 

“Highwall miners have proven to be safe, highly productive, have a low environmental impact, and provide access coal that would otherwise be stranded due to economic constraints. 

“This purchase is the result of a two-year research program undertaken by Vitrinite to determine the best method to maximize the value of its extensive resources at Vulcan. 

“This purchase is the culmination of extensive reviews of operating highwall miners around the world. The Gainwell’s product is outstanding and has been determined to be the best suited for the mining conditions at Vulcan.”

The Vulcan Mine Complex is located near Moranbah and around 200 km from the Hay point Coal terminal.

Related: Full steam ahead for new Vulcan coal mine

Vitrinite anticipates first coal to be mined with the highwall unit in 2023 said Mr Williams.

“If this first unit proves as successful as anticipated, Vitrinite will likely deploy multiple units in quick succession to increase production,” he said.

Gainwell Engineering in designs, manufactures, markets and maintains underground Room and Pillar equipment and Highwall Miners. It is also involved in the railway and defence sectors.