JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) - JSE-listed Optimum Coal said on Thursday that it had gained significant momentum in the first quarter of its 2011 financial year, boosting run-of-mine (ROM) production by 10,2% and saleable production by over 14% from the previous quarter.

The South African coal miner produced 4,59-million tons ROM coal during the three months ended September 30, 2010, which it said was in line with its forecasted 17,9-million tons to 19,1-million tons of ROM for the full year.

Of this, 1,96-million tons of export/high-quality domestic coal was produced, which was slightly ahead of full-year production targets of between 7,2-million tons and 7,8-million tons.

The company produced 1,63-million tons of lower quality domestic coal.

Optimum Coal owns and operates Optimum Collieries and Koornfontein mines in the Middelburg and Witbank region. The company reported that Optimum Collieries delivered at targeted production rates, while Koornfontein mines exceeded forecasts.

Optimum Coal CEO Mike Teke said that the company was confident that it would reach its envisaged full-year production targets.

He noted that the company had spent a significant amount of time and capital on water management initiatives at its opencast operations in preparation of the rainy season.

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