An open cut mine will intersect the regional aquifer systems of the Eromanga
Basin near the western edge of the Great
Artesian Basin (GAB). The Arckaringa Joint Venture is
developing its Groundwater Management Plan (GMP) to ensure that necessary
dewatering of the mining area can be managed effectively by water treatment,
aquifer reinjection and other measures to protect GAB mound springs, pastoral
bores and the long-term health of the aquifer systems. The project itself
will be virtually self sufficient in water in that the high moisture content
inherent in the coal will be released during gasification and, on condensing,
will provide all the water needed for plant processes. This means that
neither the mine nor CTL and power plant will require any drawdowns from
the GAB in order to operate.
- The timeline for the dewatering and water treatment task ahead of the initial box cut will be a “critical path” item for the project overall since it will affect the time needed to develop first coal for the production of CTL or other products.
- The development of a calibrated Numerical Groundwater Model for the Arckaringa Project Area by Altona’s specialist hydrogeological consultants (SKM in Adelaide) has shown that mine dewatering requirements are technically feasible with minimal potential regional impacts over the long term. This Model will be refined during the completion of the BFS to help underpin the sustainable Groundwater Management Plan required to gain a Water Allocation Licence.