Official opening of $50 million Ewington II open cut mine at Collie

24/10/96

Resources Development Minister Colin Barnett has officially opened Griffin Coal Mining Company's new $50 million Ewington II open cut coal mine at Collie.

Production of coal from the mine began this month and will supply Griffin's industrial customers previously supplied by Chicken Creek Mine, and Western Power's Muja power station.

Mr Barnett said Ewington II would be an open cut, strip mining operation.

"The total in-situ coal resource in the Ewington area is more than 300 million tonnes, with recoverable reserves of more than 130 million tonnes," he said.

"All the labour and more than three quarters of the capital items have been sourced locally, with most of the remainder being produced in the eastern states, supporting the Government's local content policy initiative."

Mr Barnett said Ewington II acknowledged both continuity and confidence.

"Continuity because Griffin has had a presence in Collie since the early years of this century and confidence because the company recognises the need for ongoing competitively priced coal in the industrial sector," he said.

"Government has placed a large vote of confidence in Collie with the construction of the new 300 megawatt coal-fired power station. In turn, coal companies and miners have responded to that by embracing more efficient mining methods.

"Opportunities for growth in the markets include coal for the new Collie Power Station and for expansions mooted in the synthetic rutile and alumina production in the South-West.

"The new power station is expected to consume 1.3 million tonnes of coal annually, while the base load demand from Western Power's generating capacity at Muja is also expected to increase.

"Synthetic rutile production is scheduled to grow by a further 150,000 tonnes per annum in 1996-97 with the demand for coal up by 130,000 tonnes."

Mr Barnett congratulated Griffin Coal Mining on its Ewington II mine and wished the company success for its future in the south west town.

He said Griffin was a well-known and respected company in Western Australia and was a long-term supplier of coal to industry and Western Power.

Griffin opened the Wyvern mine in 1943 followed by the Phoenix mine in 1948 and in the early 1950s, the Muja area where it mined the Hebe and Centaur underground mines and began the Muja open cut.

Media contact: Justine Whittome, (09) 222 9699