Austar Coal Mine, previously known as Southland Coal Mine, is located in the Lower Hunter approximately 10 kilometres from Cessnock on Wollombi Road, which is 65 kilometers west of Newcastle and 120 kilometers north of Sydney.

Austar Coal Mine is 100% owned by Yancoal Australia Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited in China, the mine has undergone a refurbishment after being in a period of care and maintenance.

The reopening of the mine is the result of a $250 million capital investment program ensuring long term viability, safety and local economic benefit. As at December 2006, the mine employed 250 people, plus contractors.

Austar Coal Mine is undertaking underground mining activities within the company’s existing mining lease area and is introducing a new technology called the Longwall Top Coal Caving (LTCC) method.

The system is ideal for thick seams (from 5-12 meters), whereas standard long wall equipment is only capable of mining in seams of up to 4.5 meters. The Greta seam, in the area of the Austar mine, is a thick seam and thus by using this mining method, up to 80% of the additional coal can be accessed, which would otherwise be lost.

The introduction of LTCC to Australia is a collaborative effort between Chinese, German and Australian engineers. Yancoal Australia’s parent company, Yanzhou Coal Mining Company is acknowledged as being one of the safest and most productive users of this mining technique. The company holds patent rights to the design in China and Australia and the Austar’s longwall equipment was manufactured under licence by a German company (DBT).

Austar Coal Mine