Energy studies have been undertaken at a number of open coal
mines in the Hunter valley. A range of energy efficiency benchmarks and targets have been
established, which, when applied across coal mines, will assist in
leading to a significant improvement in energy efficiency in the
coal mining industry in NSW, thereby leading to an improvement
in environmental performance. Typically, energy efficiency improvements of 20 per cent and
higher appear possible at many mines leading to a commensurate
reduction in this controllable operating cost, ie energy. On the
basis that annual energy costs and net profit are similar for many
mines, a reduction in energy costs by 20 per cent will lead to
increase of 20 per cent in net profit.