Major landmark reached at Ffos-y-fran
Finning’s seven-year relationship with Miller Argent surface mine weighs in at 5 million tonnes of coal
MILLER Argent’s Ffos-y-fran mining facility has reached the landmark figure of 5 million tonnes of processed coal. After seven years of refining its processes, the vast land-reclamation project in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, now produces up to 1 million tonnes of coal per year.
Much of the finished product is used to fuel nearby Aberthaw power station, which generates enough electricity to power five cities the size of Cardiff, while Port Talbot steelworks is another beneficiary.
Finning have been an integral part of the project since its inception in 2007, and although they have supplied a fleet of more than 50 Caterpillar machines, their involvement actually goes much further. The company also works with Miller Argent to manage on-site solutions, with field-based engineers, analysts and operations managers permanently stationed at the coal mining facility.
Jason Davies, health and safety advisor for Miller Argent at the Ffos-y-fran site, commented on this relationship with Finning: ‘Over the last seven years at Ffos-y-fran, Finning have provided an exemplary service with the on-site repair and maintenance team. Together with us at Miller Argent, we have ensured plant productivity is maximized and through this process our working relationship has grown stronger each year.’
He continued: ‘The efficient extraction of coal from Ffos-y-fran can only be achieved by full involvement from both our teams, ensuring that targets are met and mining equipment is well maintained. To hit 5 million tonnes is a great achievement, but if our operation were not profitable it would be inconsequential.’
Denis O’Riordan, mining operations manger for Finning in the South West, said: ‘Finning are excited to be integrated in the Ffos-y-fran mining project to such an influential level. The 51 Cat machines on site, ranging from articulated dumptrucks to hydraulic excavators, perform a range of strenuous tasks with premium fuel efficiency. However, it is the additional managed solutions Finning provide that optimizes the value we provide to Miller Argent.’
He continued: ‘I work with a dedicated team of 10 Finning staff, from engineers to project planners, who all contribute greatly to the day-to-day running of the site. With the use of Finsight, we are able to monitor all operational activity, from operator performance to fuel economy to the site layout, making sure that everything is running as efficiently, productively and, most importantly, as profitably as possible.
‘The last seven years have been a real benefit for both ourselves at Finning and Miller Argent, and I look forward to the Ffos-y-fran project achieving the next 5 million tonnes.’
