PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Whitehaven Coal, which mines in New South Wales' Gunnedah basin, has reported record quarterly and half-year metallurgical coal sales for the three and six months ended December.
The miner reported on Monday that quarterly metallurgical coal sales had reached 1.2-million tonnes in the three months to December, and two-million tonnes in the interim period.
Total coal sales for the quarter increased by 7% on the previous corresponding period to 5.3-million tonnes, with Whitehaven reporting that run-of-mine (RoM) coal production had reached 5.5-million tonnes during the quarter, up 2% on the previous corresponding period.
Whitehaven told shareholders that the Maules Creek mine delivered 2.46-million tonnes of coal in the December quarter, 40% higher than the 1.75-million tonnes produced in the previous corresponding period.
Production at the Narrabri mine was adversely impacted by geotechnical conditions during the quarter under review, with RoM production dropping by 24% on the previous corresponding period, to 1.87-million tonnes.
The three Gunnedah opencut mines produced 1.13-million tonnes RoM coal during the quarter, and some 2.31-million tonnes in the six months to December. The Tarrawonga mine produced 639 999 t, the Rocglen mine 242 000 t and the Werris Creek mine 246 000 t during the three months to December.