Wilpinjong mine is located 10 kilometres south-east of Ulan mine and 40 kilometres north-east of Mudgee. Mining commenced in late 2006 and annual production is expected to ramp up to eight million tonnes (8.8 million tons) in 2009.

The open-cut mine is operated under contract by Thiess using a truck and shovel fleet. It has an average strip ration of less than 2.5 to 1 bank cubic metres per run-of-mine tonne.

The 2800 hectare mining lease contains recoverable reserves of 201 million tonnes (221 million tons) of thermal coal. About 120 million tonnes (132 million tons) of the marketable reserve of domestic coal has been committed to Macquarie Generation under a long-term supply contract. The contract with Macquarie Generation is to supply up to seven million tonnes (7.7 million tons) of coal a year for its Bayswater and Liddell power stations for a period of 19 years commencing from 2007.

In addition to its domestic sales, Wilpinjong exports coal to Asia, with the export coal railed to the Port of Newcastle. Export sales are 2 to 2.5 million tonnes per annum.

Wilpinjong thermal coal specifications*

* Based on preliminary information.