CLIENT

Bulga Coal & Shearer Contracting

PROJECT

Refurbishment of the Bulga Coal Singleton coal feeder

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Modifications to Feeder No.4 required the removal of heavily reinforced concrete sections involving:

• 30m of 500mm deep wall sawing
• 10m of 700mm deep wall sawing
• 10 x 150mm cores for lifting

PROJECT DURATION

Stage 1: January - February 2007
Stage 2: February - March 2009

PROJECT VALUE

Stage 1 - $35 million
Stage 2 - $45 million

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BACKGROUND

Bulga coal is part of the Xstrata Coal group with interests in over 30 mines world-wide, including Australia, South Africa and Columbia.

Combined worked with Bulga Coal and Shearer Contracting to develop a schedule of works that was both cost effective and would maintain 24 hour operation.ring construction.

Combined was preferred for the stage 2 works following our successful involvement with the 2007 refurbishment of Feeder No. 3.

KEY CHALLENGES

With a lead time of one week, Combined had to mobilize quickly and brought in two wall saws to work in tandem to bring the job in on time, using senior operators from NSW and QLD with extensive experience of working on mine sites.

OH&S CONSIDERATIONS

Bulga Coal enforces stringent OH&S regulations and will only use those contractors that fully comply.

Combined quickly achieved sign-off for all safety systems including:

• work method reviews;
• driver safety permits;
• electrical awareness;
• operator health checks; and
• mechanical and electrical machinery checking and tagging by Bulga’s on-site electricians and mechanics.

PROJECT SUCCESSES

Combined once more impressed with our willingness to adapt and improve our safety systems without compromise to the work schedule.

As Bulga and Shearer insist on using only contractors with a strong focus on safety and operators with mine site experience, Combined Saw Cutting is again the preferred service provider.