20 hours ago
Glencore to sell Integra mine to their neighbours the Bloomfield Group
With the state government busy promoting its plans to establish the Future Jobs and Investment Authority, which will help guide the future economic development of coal mining regions, news from the coalface today sees a proposal for Glencore to sell its Integra underground mine near Singleton to its neighbour, the Bloomfield Group.
Integra mine ceased production in mid-2024, and by the end of July this year, Glencore hopes to have the mine's underground entrance sealed, thereby marking an end to Integra's productive life.
Integra was placed in care and maintenance in 2014 when its then-owners, Brazilian miner Vale, shut down operations in the Hunter Valley during a downturn in the coal industry.
Glencore bought the underground mine two years later and brought it back to productive life as it had approval to extract 4.3 million tonnes of coal annually until December 2035.
However, due to safety concerns with the roof, Glencore decided to close the mine and begin rehabilitating the site in the current longwall operation area.
Commenting on the proposed mine sale, Glencore said that the wholly owned subsidiary Integra Underground Mine (Integra) has entered into an Asset Sale Agreement with Bloomfield Collieries' Rix's Creek North Mine. The sale agreement includes the transfer of mining leases and land titles across a portion of Integra.
"The sale is subject to several Conditions Precedent, including appropriate regulatory approvals that will be required before completion of the sale," a spokesperson said.
"Glencore acquired Integra in 2016 from Vale when it was on care and maintenance and recommenced operations in 2017, producing metallurgical coal for export.
"Glencore ceased production at Integra due to adverse strata conditions in June 2024.
"The Bloomfield Group will acquire the land next to their current mining operations at Rix's Creek North and has confirmed that they do not plan to restart underground operations at Integra.
"The Integra workforce of employees and contractors will continue collaborating with the NSW Government Resources Regulator, the NSW Department of Planning and all other relevant agencies throughout continuing rehabilitation and closure works for the Integra Underground Mine."
Earlier this year the Singleton Argus reported on Glencore's closure plans for the mine.
As this work progresses, including the sealing of shafts, demolition of fan sites and the disconnection of the gas plant power generator in July, Glencore is seeking approval to fill the mine with wastewater this year.
Known as the Integra Project Modification, the company is seeking to pump water into the completed underground workings at Integra using surplus mine water from Glencore's Mount Owen/Glendell Operations, Bloomfield's, Rix's Creek Mine or Integra Underground itself. The objective of the modification is to inundate the mined coal seam workings.
Glencore said that now that mining has ceased at the Integra Underground operation, the underground workings will naturally fill with groundwater. The modification will assist post-closure management at Integra.
"This will allow water to be transferred from the Mt Owen operation to the Integra Underground operation," they said.
Comment has been sought of the sale from the Bloomfield Group.
With the state government busy promoting its plans to establish the Future Jobs and Investment Authority, which will help guide the future economic development of coal mining regions, news from the coalface today sees a proposal for Glencore to sell its Integra underground mine near Singleton to its neighbour, the Bloomfield Group.
Integra mine ceased production in mid-2024, and by the end of July this year, Glencore hopes to have the mine's underground entrance sealed, thereby marking an end to Integra's productive life.
Integra was placed in care and maintenance in 2014 when its then-owners, Brazilian miner Vale, shut down operations in the Hunter Valley during a downturn in the coal industry.
Glencore bought the underground mine two years later and brought it back to productive life as it had approval to extract 4.3 million tonnes of coal annually until December 2035.
However, due to safety concerns with the roof, Glencore decided to close the mine and begin rehabilitating the site in the current longwall operation area.
Commenting on the proposed mine sale, Glencore said that the wholly owned subsidiary Integra Underground Mine (Integra) has entered into an Asset Sale Agreement with Bloomfield Collieries' Rix's Creek North Mine. The sale agreement includes the transfer of mining leases and land titles across a portion of Integra.
"The sale is subject to several Conditions Precedent, including appropriate regulatory approvals that will be required before completion of the sale," a spokesperson said.
"Glencore acquired Integra in 2016 from Vale when it was on care and maintenance and recommenced operations in 2017, producing metallurgical coal for export.
"Glencore ceased production at Integra due to adverse strata conditions in June 2024.
"The Bloomfield Group will acquire the land next to their current mining operations at Rix's Creek North and has confirmed that they do not plan to restart underground operations at Integra.
"The Integra workforce of employees and contractors will continue collaborating with the NSW Government Resources Regulator, the NSW Department of Planning and all other relevant agencies throughout continuing rehabilitation and closure works for the Integra Underground Mine."
Earlier this year the Singleton Argus reported on Glencore's closure plans for the mine.
As this work progresses, including the sealing of shafts, demolition of fan sites and the disconnection of the gas plant power generator in July, Glencore is seeking approval to fill the mine with wastewater this year.
Known as the Integra Project Modification, the company is seeking to pump water into the completed underground workings at Integra using surplus mine water from Glencore's Mount Owen/Glendell Operations, Bloomfield's, Rix's Creek Mine or Integra Underground itself. The objective of the modification is to inundate the mined coal seam workings.
Glencore said that now that mining has ceased at the Integra Underground operation, the underground workings will naturally fill with groundwater. The modification will assist post-closure management at Integra.
"This will allow water to be transferred from the Mt Owen operation to the Integra Underground operation," they said.
Comment has been sought of the sale from the Bloomfield Group.
With the state government busy promoting its plans to establish the Future Jobs and Investment Authority, which will help guide the future economic development of coal mining regions, news from the coalface today sees a proposal for Glencore to sell its Integra underground mine near Singleton to its neighbour, the Bloomfield Group.
Integra mine ceased production in mid-2024, and by the end of July this year, Glencore hopes to have the mine's underground entrance sealed, thereby marking an end to Integra's productive life.
Integra was placed in care and maintenance in 2014 when its then-owners, Brazilian miner Vale, shut down operations in the Hunter Valley during a downturn in the coal industry.
Glencore bought the underground mine two years later and brought it back to productive life as it had approval to extract 4.3 million tonnes of coal annually until December 2035.
However, due to safety concerns with the roof, Glencore decided to close the mine and begin rehabilitating the site in the current longwall operation area.
Commenting on the proposed mine sale, Glencore said that the wholly owned subsidiary Integra Underground Mine (Integra) has entered into an Asset Sale Agreement with Bloomfield Collieries' Rix's Creek North Mine. The sale agreement includes the transfer of mining leases and land titles across a portion of Integra.
"The sale is subject to several Conditions Precedent, including appropriate regulatory approvals that will be required before completion of the sale," a spokesperson said.
"Glencore acquired Integra in 2016 from Vale when it was on care and maintenance and recommenced operations in 2017, producing metallurgical coal for export.
"Glencore ceased production at Integra due to adverse strata conditions in June 2024.
"The Bloomfield Group will acquire the land next to their current mining operations at Rix's Creek North and has confirmed that they do not plan to restart underground operations at Integra.
"The Integra workforce of employees and contractors will continue collaborating with the NSW Government Resources Regulator, the NSW Department of Planning and all other relevant agencies throughout continuing rehabilitation and closure works for the Integra Underground Mine."
Earlier this year the Singleton Argus reported on Glencore's closure plans for the mine.
As this work progresses, including the sealing of shafts, demolition of fan sites and the disconnection of the gas plant power generator in July, Glencore is seeking approval to fill the mine with wastewater this year.
Known as the Integra Project Modification, the company is seeking to pump water into the completed underground workings at Integra using surplus mine water from Glencore's Mount Owen/Glendell Operations, Bloomfield's, Rix's Creek Mine or Integra Underground itself. The objective of the modification is to inundate the mined coal seam workings.
Glencore said that now that mining has ceased at the Integra Underground operation, the underground workings will naturally fill with groundwater. The modification will assist post-closure management at Integra.
"This will allow water to be transferred from the Mt Owen operation to the Integra Underground operation," they said.
Comment has been sought of the sale from the Bloomfield Group.
With the state government busy promoting its plans to establish the Future Jobs and Investment Authority, which will help guide the future economic development of coal mining regions, news from the coalface today sees a proposal for Glencore to sell its Integra underground mine near Singleton to its neighbour, the Bloomfield Group.
Integra mine ceased production in mid-2024, and by the end of July this year, Glencore hopes to have the mine's underground entrance sealed, thereby marking an end to Integra's productive life.
Integra was placed in care and maintenance in 2014 when its then-owners, Brazilian miner Vale, shut down operations in the Hunter Valley during a downturn in the coal industry.
Glencore bought the underground mine two years later and brought it back to productive life as it had approval to extract 4.3 million tonnes of coal annually until December 2035.
However, due to safety concerns with the roof, Glencore decided to close the mine and begin rehabilitating the site in the current longwall operation area.
Commenting on the proposed mine sale, Glencore said that the wholly owned subsidiary Integra Underground Mine (Integra) has entered into an Asset Sale Agreement with Bloomfield Collieries' Rix's Creek North Mine. The sale agreement includes the transfer of mining leases and land titles across a portion of Integra.
"The sale is subject to several Conditions Precedent, including appropriate regulatory approvals that will be required before completion of the sale," a spokesperson said.
"Glencore acquired Integra in 2016 from Vale when it was on care and maintenance and recommenced operations in 2017, producing metallurgical coal for export.
"Glencore ceased production at Integra due to adverse strata conditions in June 2024.
"The Bloomfield Group will acquire the land next to their current mining operations at Rix's Creek North and has confirmed that they do not plan to restart underground operations at Integra.
"The Integra workforce of employees and contractors will continue collaborating with the NSW Government Resources Regulator, the NSW Department of Planning and all other relevant agencies throughout continuing rehabilitation and closure works for the Integra Underground Mine."
Earlier this year the Singleton Argus reported on Glencore's closure plans for the mine.
As this work progresses, including the sealing of shafts, demolition of fan sites and the disconnection of the gas plant power generator in July, Glencore is seeking approval to fill the mine with wastewater this year.
Known as the Integra Project Modification, the company is seeking to pump water into the completed underground workings at Integra using surplus mine water from Glencore's Mount Owen/Glendell Operations, Bloomfield's, Rix's Creek Mine or Integra Underground itself. The objective of the modification is to inundate the mined coal seam workings.
Glencore said that now that mining has ceased at the Integra Underground operation, the underground workings will naturally fill with groundwater. The modification will assist post-closure management at Integra.
"This will allow water to be transferred from the Mt Owen operation to the Integra Underground operation," they said.
Comment has been sought of the sale from the Bloomfield Group.
