Clermont

Overview

Rio Tinto Coal Australia's newest operation, Clermont Mine, is located 12 km north west of  the township of Clermont in central Queensland. Construction of the mine and associated infrastructure started in 2007, and the first shipment of coal was delivered in April 2010. When the mine reaches full capacity (expected in 2013)  it will produce up to 12.2 million tonnes of thermal coal for international markets.

The deposit holds 177 million tonnes of thermal coal (2011), and the mine has an expected life of 17 years.

Rio Tinto Coal Australia manages the operation on behalf of the joint venture partners, Rio Tinto Coal Australia's joint venture partners in the open cut mine are Mitsubishi Development Pty Ltd (31.4 per cent), J-Power Australia Pty. Ltd. (15 per cent) and J.C.D. Australia Pty. Ltd. (3.5 per cent).

Location

The mine is located 15 km southeast of the Blair Athol coal mine in Queensland, Australia.

Queensland - the 'sunshine state' -  is Australia's second-largest and third most populous state, located in the northeast of the country. To the east the state is bordered by the Coral Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

Coal mining is a major contributor to the state's economy. The state also has significant coal seam gas, natural gas and bauxite deposits.

Agriculture and tourism are other staples of the Queensland economy.

Geology & Mineralization

Clermont thermal coal seams had been discovered by accident in 1978 by exploration companies looking for gold. 

The Clermont deposit is contained within the Wolfang Basin, on the western margin of the Bowen Basin, a significant Permian coal basin stretching 600 km long and 250 km wide. 

The major seam, named Wolfang, constitutes 90 per cent of the deposits' reserves and has an average thickness of 45 metres.

Mining & Operation

Clermont Mine is an open cut mine, using a truck and shovel method. The mine is operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

When the mine reaches full capacity, scheduled for 2013, it will produce up to 12.2 million tonnes of thermal coal per annum.

Clermont Mine has marketable reserves of 177 million tonnes as at 31 December 2011.

Processing

After being washed and prepared for sale, the coal is transported by conveyor to stockpile and rail facilities at the nearby Blair Athol Mine. From there, it is loaded onto trains for transportation 280 kilometres to the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal where it is shipped to international customers.

Environment & Community

Clermont Mine seeks to be more than just a major source of local employment and economic growth, rather to work in partnership with the local community. Through its community relations programme, Rio Tinto Coal Australia is working to help provide positive long term outcomes for the Clermont region.

The Clermont Community ConsultativeCommittee (CCC) includes members of the Clermont community and representatives from Rio Tinto Coal Australia. The group meets quarterly to discuss Clermont Mine and Blair Athol Mine. CCC documents, including meeting minutes, key points from meetings and the CCC Charter, can be found in the Clermont Mine library.

The Clermont Community Reference Group (CRG) was established as part of the Clermont Mine Alternate Water Supply Agreement (AWSA) between Rio Tinto Coal Australia and nearby landowners. The group meets quarterly to discuss environmental issues relating to the Clermont Mine, and any other concerns the group may have about the mine. The CRG charter and minutes from previous meetings can be found in the Clermont Mine library.