Australian Pacific Coal (AQC) and its joint venture (JV) partner Tetra Resources have produced coal to the surface stockpile at Dartbrook coal mine in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, Australia.

This marks the first production at the mine since it was put under care and maintenance in 2006.

The Dartbrook JV comprises AQC with an 80% stake and Tetra Resources with a 20% interest.

M-Resources will secure a 10% indirect economic interest in the JV through AQC. This reduces AQC’s economic interest to 70%.

Vitol Asia is the only marketing agent for the Dartbrook coal mine.

The production of run of mine (ROM) coal was achieved following the completion and testing of a new 4km conveyor system.

This system is designed to transport ROM coal from the Kayuga seam through the Hunter Tunnel to the surface, where it will undergo processing at the coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP).

Since mid-July 2024, miners have been continuously extracting coal, initially for lab testing purposes. The coal cut during this period was stored in an underground bin, awaiting the conveyor system's completion.

With the system now operational, both the conveyor and mining systems will undergo a commissioning period before Dartbrook commences commercial production.

AQC has outlined that, initially, Dartbrook will use only the dry plant facilities, which include stockpiling, crushing and train load-out, to produce unwashed thermal coal.

The CHPP refurbishment, expected to be completed in early calendar year 2025, will enable the wet plant to become completely operational.

This will allow the mine to produce washed and graded ROM coal for export markets, with Dartbrook aiming to sell high-quality NEWC thermal coal (Newcastle coal).

Additionally, there is potential for the production of semi-soft or PCI (pulverised coal injection) coal, pending further testing results.

Australian Pacific Coal managing director and CEO Ayten Saridas said: “In just 18 months, we have simplified the joint venture, secured $60m in restart capex, finalised land and water access agreements, dewatered and refurbished the Hunter Tunnel, sourced and commissioned mining equipment, and installed a brand-new 4 km conveyor system.

“There is still work to be done to achieve commercial production and we remain focused on our goal of making Dartbrook a world-class underground mine.”

In January 2024, AQC and Tetra Resources finalised a $60m (A$91.01m) debt facility with Vitol Asia to restart the Dartbrook mine operations.