This week marks a significant moment in the development of the Maxwell Underground Mine. We celebrate the successful completion of the two parallel drifts—the Transport Drift and Conveyor Drift—which have reached their target, intersecting the Woodlands Hill seam, our first longwall seam.
Construction of the drifts commenced in July 2023, led by PYBAR Mining Services, a division of Thiess. Using the drill-and-blast technique with a “jumbo” in each drift, the team has tunnelled an impressive total of approximately 2,670 metres. This includes the 1,238-metre Conveyor Drift, the 1,246-metre Transport Drift, and 186 metres of cut-throughs. At the bottom of the drifts, where the depth of cover reaches around 147 metres, roughly 85,000 cubic metres (or 200,000 tonnes) of rock has been moved. This achievement represents a critical step in building our underground longwall mine.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to this milestone. As the focus now shifts to the next phase, our mining team, supported by the engineering, project, and technical services teams, will commence the creation of the “pit bottom” with the introduction of continuous miners.
Congratulations to everyone involved. This achievement is a testament to the extraordinary teamwork, dedication, and expertise across Malabar Resources. Together, we are paving the way for a world-class mining operation.
