Issue No.12 Summer 2012 - Minerals Engineering Society

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Horizons President’s Comments Welcome again to our latest issue of Horizons. Some of you would wish to call it our summer issue but this could be somewhat contentious given the lack of summer sun and the abundance of rain. Hopefully by the time this issue reaches you we will be enjoying a late season. As usual this issue covers a number of events that have taken place since we last went to press, and likewise some events to look forward to and support in the future. Our programme of activities continues to be reasonably well supported including the Spring symposium Minerals Engineering 2012, held at the Hilton Hotel, East Midlands. This was the third symposium held during my office and like the previous two proved to be well organised and well supported by speakers and delegates alike. Also included are articles covering a well presented Technical paper given by James Poyner to the Northern Group on Ffos-y-Fran as well as the Annual Joint Industries Dinner and Dance. Sadly this will be my last newsletter message as your President as the next issue will be circulated sometime after the coming AGM in September. As with all good things time appears to elapse so quickly and my two years as your Presi- MES President Greg Kelley dent is no exception. There are many good things that I would wish to say about my time in office but that will wait till the next issue, so I would just like to say it has been an honour and privilege to serve as your President made special by the support of Council and Group Activists. Many thanks to you all. I hope you enjoy this issue and I look forward to seeing you at a MES event in the not too distant future. Remember get involved - it’s vital to our future success and it’s also enjoyable. Best regards Greg Greg Retires! MES President Greg Kelley retired from his position as Managing Director of Norec Ltd / Hargreaves Industrial Services Division at the end of May 2012. Greg decided to take early retirement "to give complete time to my personal life and fulfil numerous remaining goals with my family and friends”. Greg worked at Coalite Ltd and the British Carbonisation Research Association before joining British Coal to work in Coal Preparation in the early '80s. In 1993 he joined Norec Ltd on Coal Preparation Operation & Maintenance contracts, then took charge of the contract at Ratcliffe power station. His management ability and 'can do' attitude led to advancement in the company, leading to appointment as Managing Director in 2004. By then, Norec had become established as providers of O&M services for materials handling plants at power stations and port facilities. Following the acquisition of Norec by the Hargreaves Group in 2006, Greg became MD of the Industrial Greg's 'Leaving Do' Services Division, and embarked on a programme of growth in 'hard' facilities management and expansion into 'soft' facilities management. It was about this time that Julie Garton (now Haynes) joined the company as Director of Facilities Management, and it is she who has succeeded as MD of Hargeaves Industrial Services Division from 1 st June 2012. Greg celebrated his retirement with colleagues, friends and family at a party held at Tankersley Manor Hotel, Barnsley, where he was presented with a Mont Blanc Pen as a reminder of the many years he dedicated to Norec. Greg and Norec colleagues have supported the MES for many years, and his many friends in the Society wish him the best of luck in his retirement. We also wish Julie every success in leading the business forward, particularly as she is also a Fellow of the Society and has pledged continuing support. Photo courtesy of Lucie McDermott, Norec Ltd Page 4
Issue 12 Ffos-y-Fran Update for Northern Group The final 2011-2012 technical meeting of the Northern Group year was held on 15 th March 2012 at UK Coal Head Office, Harworth, near Doncaster. Fifteen members enjoyed a pleasant buffet meal provided by UK Coal before Group Chairman John Sowter introduced Mr James Poyner, Managing Director of Miller Group Limited Mining Division, who gave a presentation on 'The Ffos-y-Fran Land Reclamation Scheme'. After first giving a simplistic overview of opencast mining methodology, James outlined the history of the scheme. In the mid 19th century, the area around Merthyr Tydfil was the largest iron production centre in the world, but the closure of the steel works and coal mines left large areas of dereliction by the 1980s. After the Aberfan disaster of 1966 the government issued an edict to local authorities to identify areas of land in need of reclamation, and mid- Glamorgan County Council came up with the East Merthyr Land Reclamation Scheme. This scheme sought to reclaim the derelict and dangerous land to the east of Merthyr Tydfil by way of opencast coal mining operations, restoring the land to beneficial use at no cost to the public purse. Phases I and II of the Scheme have been completed but Phase III was delayed until recently whilst access to the land was sought. This is the Ffos-y-Fran Land Reclamation Scheme, which is the largest of the original three phases and will restore 367ha of derelict land. The reclamation works include the removal of known shafts and adits all previously associated with iron ore and coal workings, as well as the removal of fly tipping and many burnt out stolen cars from the site. The scheme will create a better and safer environment for the local community for the benefit of future generations. Miller Argent (South Wales) Ltd - a joint venture between the Miller Group Ltd and the Argent Goup plc - was specifically created to undertake the works. Planning permission was granted in 2006, site works commenced in June 2007 and will continue for 17½ years. James said that it is estimated that 11m tonnes of coal will be recovered from 165m cubic metres of excavation. After coaling is completed, there will be a 2 year restoration period and five years of aftercare. 200 direct and 400 indirect jobs have been created, over 80% of these jobs are local. Annual production will be between 750k and 1m tpa, shipped via the adjacent Cwmbargoed railhead. The first train was loaded in January 2008. The coal provides about 40% of burn at Aberthaw power station; other customers are the Port Talbot steelworks, the cement and other industries, and domestic consumers. A barrel washing plant has been installed to clean 150ktpa of product for Aberthaw, and a DM system for 100ktpa of product for the steelworks and other customers. Caterpillar 777F truck being loaded by PC3000 excavator at Ffos-y-Fran James outlined other benefits of the scheme to the local community, including restoration of 367Ha of land, £1 per tonne donation to a community benefit fund, two community minibuses, and an education / training centre. He indicated that noise and dust suppression were major considerations: haul roads were regularly dowsed with water, and two 'fog cannons' had been purchased for loading operations. James Poyner Miller Argent are now preparing a planning application for a new opencast coal mine incorporating land remediation at Nant Llesg, Rhymney, a few miles to the East of Ffos-y-Fran. An estimated 5m - 8m tonnes of coal would be recovered over a fifteen year programme, again shipped via Cwmbargoed. James closed his presentation by posing the question "Coal - Friend or Foe?". After briefly outlining the history of coal production in the UK, he opined that the country cannot manage without coal, it still provides about 30% of electricity generation, yet without further consents by 2020 we will have no coal industry left to speak of. After a lively Q&A session, a vote of thanks to James was well supported by those present. Cwmbargoed Coal Disposal Point Report by Peter Cooper, images courtesy of Miller Argent (South Wales) Ltd Editor's Note: Northern Group have arranged a visit to the Ffos-y-Fran Land Reclamation site for 25 September 2012. Contact Colin Scargill, Honorary Secretary/Treasurer Northern Group, on mes.north@btinternet.com Page 5
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Issue No.12 Summer 2012 - Minerals Engineering Society

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