Anglo American Board of Directors approved the Aquila project to extend the life of the Capcoal underground (Grasstree mine) hard-coking coal operations in Queensland, Australia, by six years, to 2028. With an expected attributable capital cost of $226 million, development work is expected to begin in September with first longwall production of premium quality hard-coking coal in early 2022.
The Capcoal complex includes the Capcoal open cut and Grasstree underground operations, both managed by Anglo American. The underground operations are owned 70% by Anglo American and 30% by Mitsui & Co. Ltd. The project is also subject to approval by Mitsui. In 2018, the Capcoal open cut produced 2 million mt of metallurgical coal products and Grasstree underground produced 3.6 million mt of hard coking coal (attributable). The Capcoal open-cut operations have a reserve life of 20 years.
