Striking coal in Collie

In 2022, Monadelphous jumped at the chance to work with new customer, Yancoal Australia, on a plant relocation at the Premier Coal mine – Western Australia’s largest coal producer. 

Managed by Yancoal on behalf of its majority shareholder, Premier Coal is a major open cut coal mine in Collie that mines about three million tonnes per year and provides power generation fuel for the state’s south-west integrated electricity grid.  

When the customer uncovered a coal seam running under their onsite water treatment plant, Monadelphous took the opportunity to secure our first contract, supporting the relocation of the plant just three kilometres down the road. 

Consisting of one large clarifier tank, standing six meters tall and 26 meters across, and a number of smaller tanks and pumps, the plant is spread across around 10,000 square meters. The job involves pulling apart all sections of the plant, lifting, shifting, and putting it back together on new concrete foundations. 

Committed to a nine-month turnaround, the team is working diligently to deliver in the Monos’ way – we deliver what we promise. Relocation of a facility of this scope is a big project and the extent of subcontractor and civil works has been a challenge.  

Alex Longworth, Project Manager, said the team are did a good job considering the added challenge, contending with muddy conditions from recent high rainfalls and maintaining a high safety standard. He called out Miles Davis, Project Engineer, and Bryon Fenn, Supervisor, for being real assets to the team in supporting works onsite. 

The team completed the project at the end of September – well done all.