Austar Coal Mine has introduced the first Longwall Top Coal Caving System of mining to Australia.

Austar Coal Mines parent company is acknowledged as being one of the safest and most productive users of this technique in the world.

Longwall Top Coal Caving is considered ideal for thick seams (>4.5m). In addition to proven safety advantages in the areas of face stability, operational control and management of spontaneous combustion the LTCC method allows for up to 80% recovery of additional coal that is usually unable to be mined using conventional longwall extraction.

Environmental impact can be tailored to the sensitivity of different areas by controlling the extent of coal recovery from the caving process.