What is metallurgical coal?

Stanmore produces predominately metallurgical coal, which is also referred to as coking coal and is used in the primary steel-making process.

Metallurgical coal is heated to around 1,000 degrees Celsius over 12-36 hours to produce a substance called coke. Coke is almost pure carbon and is added to fuel a blast furnace as part of the basic oxygen steelmaking process. More than 70% of the world's crude steel  is produced using this process.

Thermal coal, which is used to generate energy, does not produce coke when heated.

There is currently no alternative to coke in steelmaking using a blast furnace, so demand for metallurgical coal is expected to remain buoyant and continue to support the economics of Stanmore's operations.

 

ASX metallurgical coal investment opportunity

ASX metallurgical coal investment opportunity

Stanmore Coal offers an attractive entry point into the coal sector in Australia as an established producer of metallurgical coal.

Stanmore acquired the Isaac Plains Coal Mine in 2015 for $1 consideration.

First coal revenue from the Isaac Plains Mine was recorded in June 2016.

Stanmore Coal also holds a diversified portfolio of development and exploration properties across projects which host coking, thermal and PCI coal.

All projects are situated in Queensland’s Bowen and Surat Basins, which produce some of the world’s best coking, PCI and thermal coals.

Isaac Plains Coal Mine – metallurgical coal focus

Isaac Plains is a metallurgical coal mine located in the prime coking coal region of the Bowen Basin, Queensland.

The mine was placed under care and maintenance by former owners in 2014. Stanmore Coal recommenced mining in February 2016 with first product coal in April and first coal shipped in May 2016.

Production levels have increased over the past 18 months and the mine is now producing at a rate of 2.8 to 2.9 Mtpa of ROM, with sales planned at 2.4 Mpa product coal.  Golding Contractors Pty Ltd were appointed as the Principal Contractor under a mine services agreement contract.

The mine produces a primary coking coal with product coal being exported to key customers in Asia and Europe in the steel manufacturing industry.

Isaac Plains Coal Mine
Isaac Plains East Project

Isaac Plains East Project

The Isaac Plains East Project (formerly Wotonga Project) was acquired in 2015. The project is located adjacent to the east of the Isaac Plains Coal Mine.

Given the proximity to the Isaac Plains Coal Mine, the capital required to develop Isaac Plains East is significantly reduced with existing process plant and rail loop access readily in place.

Operations at Isaac Plains East commenced in June 2018 and in December 2018 the Dragline was transferred from Isaac Plains to Isaac Plains East.

Projects close to export infrastructure

Projects close to export infrastructure

Stanmore Coal’s Bowen Basin tenements are located near rail infrastructure which provides access to the export ports at Gladstone and Dalrymple Bay.

Significant exploration upside

Portfolio of over 2,000 km2 of highly prospective, granted exploration tenements which sit within Queensland’s prime Bowen Basin and developing Surat Basin coal regions.

The Belview Project is a prospective high quality coking coal project in the Bowen Basin, containing a JORC Resource of 330Mt (50Mt Indicated and 280Mt Inferred).

The Range Project is a high quality thermal coal asset located in the Surat Basin. A Feasibility Study, completed in April 2013, confirmed the technical and economic feasibility of the project. A 94Mt Marketable Coal Reserve1 underpins infrastructure investment required.

 

1 2019 Annual Coal Resources & Reserves Summary
Significant exploration upside
Highly experienced board and management focussed on growth

Highly experienced board and management focussed on growth

The Board and management team have a proven track record in the identification, exploration, development and operation of coal assets in Queensland and NSW; as well as the formation of a number of successful coal and coal seam gas companies.

The Board and management of Stanmore Coal have a successful track record in mergers and acquisitions which will complement Stanmore Coal’s planned corporate growth strategy.

Stanmore Coal believes it can enhance shareholder value through the identification and delivery of logical acquisitions such as the Isaac Plains Coal Mine.

Website Footnote References

  1. December 2020 Annual Report published 26 February 2021, Coal Resources and Reserves Summary can be found on pages 107 & 108.

  2. Marketable Reserves Note – The Marketable Coal Reserves of 94Mt is derived from a JORC compliant run of mine (ROM) Coal Reserve of 117.5Mt based on a 14.8% ash product and predicted yield of 80%, published in October 2012.