All photos taken with a Nokia Camera Phone … sorry, this is all I had at the time …

Today’s mines around the world need larger machines to provide improved productivity and economy within their operation. Simple size increases can’t achieve this. Komatsu has responded to this need with larger, more productive machines which incorporate leading edge technologies. In keeping with Komatsu’s motto “always respond to customer needs with the most advanced equipment available,” the MOUNTAIN MOVER WA1200-3 was born … and it is one massive machine … with some massive power to move it along … it is truly “a machine that can move a mountain” …

Some engine specifications to “wet your whistle”:

Download additional information on the Komatsu WA1200 (Mountain Mover)

This was a Planned Maintenance Optimization (PMO) project I did for BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) at their Blackwater, Australia coal mine. Blackwater is one of the largest open cut coal mines in Australia, producing almost 14 million tonnes of coking and thermal coal a year. The mine, located 24km south of the town of Blackwater and 315km west of the port of Gladstone, commenced production in 1967 . In December 2000, the South Blackwater open-cut operations previously owned by QCT Resources were combined with those of the CQCA Blackwater mine. Blackwater Mine produces coal from the Rangal coal measures and the seams average 7m to 7.5m in thickness, and dip at an average 3 degrees to 5 degrees to the east.

Coal is mined by open-cut methods, using 7 draglines and two truck/shovel fleets comprising a 56 cubic metre rope shovel and 8 x 300 tonne rear dump trucks, and a 18 cubic metre hydraulic excavator and 7 x 180 tonne rear dump trucks for overburden removal. Coal seams are mined using 4 front-end loaders, a hydraulic shovel before being transported to one of three coal preparation plants by 15 x 160 tonne capacity coal haulers.

Coal processing is handled through three coal preparation plants - the Blackwater CPP which has a coal washing capacity of 900tph and a product conveyor capacity of 1,400tph allowing for bypass; the South Blackwater CPP, also with a washing capacity of 900tph and a product conveyor capacity of 1500tph allowing for bypass; and a thermal coal plant providing a crushing and rail loadout facility with a capacity of 1500tph.

Blackwater coking and thermal coal is sold to South and East Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, India and Australia.

ENJOY!