GRADES

To maximize our reach of coal deposits within the rock layers, we utilize open-cut mining, a method also known as open-cast, open-pit, strip, or mountaintop removal. This surface mining technique boasts a significant advantage over underground methods: a higher recovery rate of the total coal deposit.

The open-cut mining process relies on several key pieces of specialized equipment. Draglines, colossal excavators equipped with cable-suspended buckets, tackle the initial task of removing layers of rock and soil (overburden) that lie above the valuable coal seam. Powerful shovels then take over, efficiently loading both the overburden and the exposed coal onto massive haul trucks for transport. Alternatively, some operations utilize bucket-wheel excavators, giant continuous diggers that can perform both excavation and loading in one go, streamlining the process. Once the coal seam is fully exposed, strategically placed explosives may be used for further fragmentation, followed by drills and other specialized tools that further fracture the coal, facilitating easier removal. The extracted coal is then typically mined in strips and loaded onto conveyors or large trucks for transport to its final destination. Depending on its intended purpose, the coal might be directed to a coal preparation plant for processing or loaded directly onto barges for shipment via our holding jetty.