AS CONJECTURE about future surface haulage of ore from the Jabiluka uranium mine to the nearby Ranger mill continues, the mine development team is also maintaining close tabs on emerging underground haulage options. Peter Lloyd, project manager at Jabiluka in the NT, is one of many people watching the development of new trucks with interest. He doesn't see the mine opting for less than 50t-payload trucks. "Hopefully there will be 80-tonners around in the next few years that we can use," he said. "We're definitely closely looking at those types of innovations and models because we have quite a shallow deposit. We've made the decline 6m wide by 5.5m high, minimum clearance, and a one in eight grade, so we believe we'll have plenty of room. And there is very limited surface access, so a truck haulage fleet is very important to us."

 

 

Jabiluka's project team is reviewing its underground truck options.