Atrum Coal is finalising an updated pre-feasibility study (PFS) for its Groundhog North anthracite project in British Columbia, Canada, which will take a staged approach to mine development.

Under the new development plan, the company will begin with a smaller “starter” underground mine with production of up to 880 000 tpy of ultra-high-grade anthracite. The updated PFS will then include subsequent development stages for larger underground operations.

“The staged approach to the development of the Groundhog North Complex importantly provides the company with early cash flows,” the company said in an ASX release.

The starter mine included in the revised PFS is located in the so-called Western Domain of the Groundhog North Complex and will require a total CAPEX investment of US$142 million.

From the starter mine, “numerous development paths can be selected”, the company said, from a staged ramp up to a 1.6 million tpy continuous miner operations or larger ‘mini-wall’ operation.

The updated PFS and recently awarded bulk sample permit “demonstrates the economic viability of the Groundhog North project and accelerated Atrum’s plans to achieving commercial production,” said Atrum’s Executive Chairman, Robert Bell.

Edited by Jonathan Rowland.