Austar Coal Mine will introduce the first Longwall Top Coal Caving (LTCC) System of mining to Australia. This system is considered ideal for thick seams (>4.5m). In addition to proven safety advantages in the areas of face stability, operational control and management of spontaneous combustion the LTCC method will allow for up to 80% recovery of additional coal that is normally unable to be mined using conventional longwall extraction.

Environmental impact can be tailored to the sensitivity of different areas by controlling the extent of coal recovery from the caving process.

Yancoal Australia is acknowledged as being one of the safest and most productive users of this technique in the world.

 

Longwall Mining System

 

LTCC Equipment

 

LTCC Equipment