Any project carries a number of challenges and risks. Inappropriate design, poor project management, time, industrial
disputation and capital over runs are all areas which can impact on a project cash flows and return on investment. In the
resource Industry you have the added complexity and risk of geology which is difficult to predict and sometimes
unforgiving. The Dartbrook Mine was designed and constructed as a high output longwall mine and has overcome a
number of hurdles to produce over 2.3 million tonnes for the first year of operation. A number of problems were
encountered during construction which resulted in the inseam development being delayed for six months. Dartbrook
people have demonstrated they can manage adversity and produce world class results. The mine has been through a very
steep learning curve during 1997 and with this experience behind the mine is now producing at an annualised rate of 3.4
MTPA.