Page 84 - Annual Report 2020

1.9.2 Minerals Australia continued

Abbot Point
Bowen Queensland,
Australia
Collinsville

Mackay Dalrymple Bay
Broadmeadow BMA Hay Point
Goonyella South Walker Coal Terminal
Riverside Creek
Moranbah Daunia
Caval Poitrel
Ridge Peak Downs
Saraji
Dysart
Barney Point
Rockhampton
Emerald Blackwater RG Tanna
Blackwater
Gladstone

BMA Mine BMC Mine BMA Port Port Rail

Metallurgical coal assets

Our metallurgical coal assets in Australia consist of open-cut and BMC
underground mines. At our open-cut mines, overburden is removed BMC owns and operates two open-cut metallurgical coal mines in
after blasting, using draglines or truck and shovel. The metallurgical the Bowen Basin – South Walker Creek Mine and Poitrel Mine. BMC
coal (also called steelmaking coal) is then extracted using is owned by BHP (80 per cent) and Mitsui and Co (20 per cent).
excavators or loaders and loaded onto trucks to be taken
to stockpiles or to a beneficiation facility. Key developments during FY2020
At our underground mine, steelmaking coal is extracted by longwall Queensland Coal achieved record underground coal mined at
or continuous miner. It is then transported to stockpiles on the Broadmeadow of 2.43 Mt (compared to 2.12 Mt in FY2019) and
surface by conveyor. record annual production at Caval Ridge of 4.35 Mt (compared
Steelmaking coal from stockpiles is crushed and, for a number of to 3.97 Mt in FY2019) and Poitrel of 4.13 Mt (compared to 4.07 Mt
in FY2019).
the operations, washed and processed through a preparation plant.
It is then transported to ports on trains. Single and multi-user rail Productivity initiatives introduced in FY2019 to accelerate the rate
and port infrastructure is used as part of the steelmaking coal at which coal is uncovered and ensure a continuous feed to the
supply chain. wash plants remained on track, with FY2020 focused on
improvements in payload and cycle times. Through the Integrated
Queensland Coal Remote Operations Centre, we continued to build on the ultra class
Overview truck utilisation improvements, optimising truck allocation and
Queensland Coal comprises the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) minimising process delays with in-shift, real-time operational
and BHP Mitsui Coal (BMC) assets in the Bowen Basin in Central performance management and increased integration through
Queensland, Australia. the outbound supply chain.
The Bowen Basin’s high-quality steelmaking coals are ideally suited With a continued focus on safety in FY2020, Queensland Coal
to efficient blast furnace operations. The region’s proximity to Asian achieved its lowest ever total recordable injury frequency rate
customers means it is well positioned to competitively supply the and BMA achieved a step change across lead and lag indicators
seaborne market. attributed to the implementation of key work programs enabling
alignment of health and safety procedures across all operations
Queensland Coal has access to key infrastructure in the Bowen and through investment in the implementation of more than
Basin, including a modern, multi-user rail network and its own 120 additional hard controls.
coal loading terminal at Hay Point, located near the city of Mackay.
Queensland Coal also has contracted capacity at three other
multi-user port facilities – the Port of Gladstone (RG Tanna
Coal Terminal), Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal and Abbot Point
Coal Terminal.
BMA
BMA is Australia’s largest producer and supplier of
seaborne metallurgical coal. It is owned 50:50 by BHP
and Mitsubishi Development.
BMA operates seven Bowen Basin mines (Goonyella Riverside,
Broadmeadow, Daunia, Peak Downs, Saraji, Blackwater and Caval
Ridge) and owns and operates the Hay Point Coal Terminal near
Mackay. With the exception of the Broadmeadow underground
longwall operation, BMA’s mines are open-cut, using draglines
and truck and shovel fleets for overburden removal.

82 BHP Annual Report 2020