Conveyors

Endless conveyor belts are used to transport the coal from the mine up to the raw coal bunker. They also transport overburden to the overburden dump. At Loy Yang mine for example, there are over 27 kilometres of conveyor belts.

The conveyor belts are made from thick rubber and are 2 metres wide. Large electric motors are used to drive the belts; approximately 4 of these are used to drive a 3km stretch of belt. Idlers support the belting. There are two types: Returners which are used every 8 metres and Troughers which are placed every 1 metre. The conveyor belts travel at a rate of 5 metres per second.

When the dredger moves to a new section of the mine, the conveyor belts have to be moved as well. This is done by large bulldozers pushing the belt systems in a line to their new position.