Adaro says OPCC system to be fully commissioned in Q3 2013
Thursday, August 1 2013 - 02:56 AM WIB
IDX-listed coal miner PT Adaro Energy Tbk said that it expected its pit overburden crusher and conveyor (OPCC) system is expected to be fully commissioned in the third quarter of this year.
The company said in a quarterly report on Wednesday that the amount of overburden removed from its open pit mine has grown to more than 300 Mbcm per year. Handling and disposing of such volumes of overburden has become more expensive and is a major challenge. A decision was made in 2010 to start mechanizing the overburden removal by installing a series of crushing and conveying systems that will transport overburden and spread it on outlying dumping areas that are not accessible for overburden trucks.
?The OPCC plays a big role in our efficiency and productivity improvement, as well as ensuring that we can continue reliability of coal supply to our customers. The OPCC will help transport overburden greater distances, combat rising overburden hauling costs and reduce our dependency on diesel fuel,? the company said.
The project commenced trial operations and has moved 128,812 bcm of overburden in the second quarter of 2013. ?The system is expected to be fully commissioned in 3Q13 and transport up to 34 Mbcm of overburden per annum. During 2Q13, we invested US$4.31 million, bringing total investment to US$219.76 million.?
The system will consist of two crushing stations processing 7,000 tons per hour and a 7.7-kilometer fixed conveyor system that can carry up to 12,000 tons per hour, plus a 2.4-kilometer transportable conveyor that features a mobile, computer-controlled stacking and spreading system.
Power for the system will be supplied from the 2x30MW coal-fired mine mouth power station recently completed near Tanjung bay by subsidiary Makmur Sejahtera Wisesa, which is due to be fully operational by mid-2013.
"The estimated cost of the project was US$212 million and total manpower and equipment used to construct this system comprised of 919 personnel and 24 units of heavy equipment,? the statement said.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak