Cummins_eMag_Summer_2014 Final Single

EX8000 is powered by dual Cummins QSK60
engines pumping out close to 4000 hp.
Meandu Mine was bought from Rio Tinto in
2008 to secure a long-term fuel source for
the two adjacent Tarong power stations.
Construction of the mine began in 1981
after the Queensland Government made
the decision to build the first Tarong
power station. In 1984, the mine began
regular supply of coal to the 1400 MW
power station – supply that increased
with the construction of the second
Tarong power station (443 MW) in 2003.
to do much walking,” says Jim Young.
Other machines in the excavator fleet
include a 518-tonne EX5500-5 which had
run 43,250 hours near the end of 2013
(it has dual Cummins QSK45 engines
rated at 1350 hp), and a 359-tonne
EX3600-6 which had worked 23,000 hours
(it is powered by a single Tier II Cummins
QSK60 MCRS engine rated at 1944 hp).
The QSK60 with its modular common
rail fuel system (MCRS) achieved
18,850 hours in the EX3600-6 before
rebuild, and Cummins mining business
manager Stewart McKeddie expects
a similar life to overhaul with the dual
Tier II QSK60 engines in the EX8000.
The 19-strong dump truck fleet at Meandu
is spearheaded by Komatsu 830E AC
The mine is currently producing 4.8
Mtpa but has reached as high as 7.2
Mtpa. Downer EDI is providing the
mining services at Meandu although
Stanwell owns most of the plant.
Hitachi is the preferred excavator
brand at Meandu, the oldest machine
on site – an EX3500 with dual 880
hp Cummins K38 engines – having
clocked up around 84,000 hours since
its commissioning in 1992. “It’s on easy
work these days where it doesn’t have
06 07
Meandu Mine has five active pits…pictured are the west and central pits.