Thiess Quarterly News, Volume 1, 2005

OpportunityWilpinjong Coal Project – new coalresource opportunityLocated 40kmnorth-west of Mudgee andapproximately 110km west ofMuswellbrook, the WilpinjongProject represents a majoropportunity to develop anew coal resource ona greenfield site in thewestern coal field of NSW.In early 2003 Thiess madea strategic decision toalign with Excel CoalLimited, who had studiedthe site for several yearsand now own 90% of theland. Excel’s explorationlicence covers some 4,222hectares and the site hasan in situ resource ofsome 523 million tonnesof thermal coal. Its largereserves have a very lowstrip ratio compared withtypical Hunter Valley minesand the overall project hasa potential life of morethan 20 years.Thiess’ expertise will beused to deliver thedevelopment, infrastructureand operational phasesof the project. The mineinfrastructure will includea rail loop, access roads,workshop, offices and bathhouse facilities. Designand construction of a CoalHandling Plant for raw coalcrushing, stockpiling andassociated train loadingfacilities are also part ofThiess’ contract.A 50:50 Joint Venturebetween Thiess Servicesand Sedgman will undertakethe design and constructionof the coal handling, crushing,washing and rail loadingfacilities.Final exploration drilling of thesite to fine-tune the geologicalmodel is virtually completeand Excel is currentlyfinalising EIS documentationtogether with a DevelopmentApplication for submission inearly 2005.Community consultationis continuing while Thiessmoves into the projectdefinition phase for the mineinfrastructure and establishesrelationships with localservice providers. ScottWinter from the South WalkerCreek Project in Queenslandhas been appointed asProject Manager and hasrecently established apermanent site office.The target is to commenceconstruction in late 2005 andmining in mid-2006.•16 THIESS l quarterly news l VOLUME 1 l 2005