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Event Wrap: BBMC Luncheon with Pembroke November 2022

09 December 2022 | BBMC Events

Olive Downs Complex is all systems go

Pembroke Resources General Manager, Blair Richardson and ESG Manager, Melanie Saul delivered an eagerly-awaited update on the Olive Downs Complex at the BBMC’s final luncheon for 2022.

Operational outlook for a long-term project
For the Pembroke Resources team, 2022 has been a year when plans and projects put into play five or more years ago have come to fruition. While moving through the necessary government approvals, planning and permits, and community consultation, Pembroke has also been proactive in securing ‘take and pay’ contracts for essential supporting infrastructure as it became available, in order to guarantee future delivery capacity. These have included:

Port capacity – this was secured four years ago at Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal.
Water supply – Pembroke Resources contracted supply from Sunwater several years ago, well before it was essential to the site.

Key early works programs

Constructing a 26km water pipeline and a high-level bridge across the Isaac River.
The 75m communications on-site tower is currently being commissioned to ensure 4G coverage across the site, Pembroke also upgraded the Moranbah town tower as a spinoff benefit for Moranbah.

A major milestone for 2022 was April’s sod-turning ceremony which marked the official start of construction of the mine infrastructure area, now that the full $500M construction program is fully
funded.

Mr Richardson emphasised the multi-generational impact the Olive Downs Complex would have on families in the area over its 79-year approved life cycle. The project has a deliberate long-term focus, as the Bowen Basin’s high-quality coking coal will be in global demand for steelmaking in the long term, and Olive Downs will be an ‘engine room’ for the regional economy and supply essential steelmaking coal for economic advancement internationally. Pembroke’s production will be more than 90% coking coal, aiming for 20 Mt ROM capacity annually when at capacity. At full production, the mine will employ over 1,000 people. Pembroke is committed to offering viable alternatives to FIFO or DIDO options and will fully support those who wish to settle in Moranbah.

Automation a key component of future-ready fleets
Importantly, Thiess was contracted early in 2022 for mine production services. The approach is to outfit the site with mostly new equipment, including 800-tonne excavators supported by Caterpillar 793 and 794 haul trucks. The Olive Downs Complex will be the first greenfield east coast site to roll out full automation with three automated fleets and two manned fleets.
Looking ahead, Pembroke sees that having leading technology operating locally will draw the next generation of skilled mining workers to the project. Pembroke, Caterpillar and Thiess are fully committed to the resources required to fulfil this vision for the Olive Downs Complex over the next five years, for first coal shipping in the first quarter of 2024.

Industry-leading ESG practices
ESG Manager, Melanie Saul attributes Pembroke’s smooth approvals process in part to the very proactive stance the company has taken to operate ethically on every level, ensuring contributions are made on local, regional and national levels.

An excellent example is the clearing activities protocol. Pembroke undertakes a 3-phase process focused on biodiversity initiatives – firstly, night surveys with drones fitted with infra-red capability to identify koala populations. Koalas are then taken for full health checks and tagging in the purpose-built veterinarian clinic onsite. Secondly, an ecologist team identify every greater glider habitat tree in the target area, marking them for further investigation. And finally, fauna spotters utilise elevated work platforms to check each hollow in every tree in the target area to identify greater glider populations. Like the koalas, the gliders are then taken to the veterinarian clinic where full health checks, tagging and DNA samples are undertaken. Both koalas and greater gliders are then tracked in real-time using latest technologies within the dedicated conservation zones along the Isaac River. Pembroke is collecting the data on these Australian icons to contribute to much-needed research through partnerships with leading universities.

Regional supply and engagement underway
Pembroke Resources have partnered with Tier 1 companies, including Thiess, Sedgman, Golding and Aurizon for project delivery. Pembroke has extensive social commitments, including engagement and provision of opportunity for local and regional participation, and support for community goals. Contracting partners are strongly encouraged to contribute to these
commitments. Pembroke provides favourable 30-day payment cycles and their procurement gateway is now up and running, with staff on standby to assist small businesses through the process as necessary.