PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Mining major BHP Billiton and its coal joint venture partner Mitsubishi have officially opened the $3-billion third berth at the Hay Point coal terminal, taking the terminal’s export capacity from 44-million tonnes a year to 55-million tonnes a year.

The Hay Point coal terminal third expansion project (HPX3) involved the construction of a new berth and ship-loader alongside the existing two berths. It also included the replacement of the existing jetty, trestle conveyors and surge bins and linking conveyors.

“BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) is the world’s largest exporter of seaborne metallurgical coal and employs 9 000 Queenslanders. The opening of the HPX3 project is a significant milestone,” said BHP coal president Mike Henry.

“Importantly, the increased capacity at HPX3 will enhance our ability to run an even more productive value chain.

“Through its design features, the project has also improved the Port’s ability to withstand significant weather events, improving the resilience of the BMA business and enhancing customer confidence in the reliability of supply from BMA and Queensland.”

More than one-billion tonnes of coal have passed through Hay Point coal terminal since it was established in 1971.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Wednesday that Queensland coal exports reached a new record in the last financial year of more than 219-million tonnes and it was pleasing to acknowledge the benefits of large infrastructure investments such as the Hay Point expansion, notwithstanding the challenging times faced by the coal sector.

“I want to thank BHP Billiton and Mitsubishi for their confidence in the Queensland coal export market and their contribution to the Queensland economy, despite coal prices having declined markedly in recent years,” the Premier said.