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Bandanna's Dingo project aims at 2014 start
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20th Feb 2013 10:02 AM


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Bandanna Energy is planning to export coal out of its Dingo-west project by October next year.
A NEW Bandanna Energy mine development to the west of Dingo aims to export its first coal by October, 2014.

The Environmental Impact Statement on the aptly named Dingo West project will be submitted to the State Government by June, after which chief development officer Stuart Clarke said the definitive number of jobs to be created during construction and operation would be known.

"We are aiming to have the mine plans and financial details completed by June this year," Mr Clarke said.

"That will enable us to complete the EIS and go public later this year.

"The ramp-up for the mine is three months from first digging to first coal so it is a fast expansion and quite small tonnages initially."

Mr Clarke said the financial position of parent company Bandanna Energy was stable, but did not rule out the possibility the Dingo West project could act as a funding buffer for the larger, and more controversial, Springsure Creek Project in the Golden Triangle.

"Certainly the development of Dingo West is quite small and cheap from the perspective of a mine development," he said.

"A lot of it will be done with contractor (workforces) so it won't be Bandanna going out and building it.

"Some of the coal might be used if we encounter delays in Springsure Creek, not that we are anticipating that."

He said Bandanna continued efforts to secure a joint venture partner for the Springsure Creek operation.

"One of the key things for us is ensuring the right JV partners or any partners we partner with understand the co-existence strategy," Mr Clarke said.

Mr Clarke said the company anticipated the need for 80 to 100 people during initial operations.

Submissions on the Springsure Creek EIS close on Thursday, March 28.