Photo by: Bloombeg
PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Coal miner Whitehaven Coal has reported a 146% increase in run-of-mine (RoM) production for the quarter ended December, compared with the previous corresponding period.
RoM production for the quarter reached 5.4-million tonnes, while saleable coal production was up 108% to 4.9-million tonnes.
The Narrabri mine, in New South Wales, delivered a 220% increase in production during the quarter, producing 2.46-million tonnes RoM production, while saleable coal production from the mine reached 2.16-million tonnes.
The Maules Creek mine delivered 3.29-million tonnes of RoM production along with 3.16-million tonnes of saleable coal.
Meanwhile, the Tarrawonga mine delivered 536 000 t RoM coal production as well as 477 000 t of saleable production, while Rocglen produced 350 000 t of RoM production and 587 000 t of saleable production. The Werris Creek mine also delivered 304 000 t RoM production, which was down 39% on the previous corresponding period owing to overburden removal and some minor weather delays in December.
Whitehaven on Tuesday reported that total coal sales for the December quarter reached 4.9-million tonnes, which was up 67% on the previous corresponding period.
Export sales comprised 10% metallurgical coal and 90% thermal coal, owing to the addition of the Maules Creek thermal coal sales.
Whitehaven achieved an average price of $65/t for its metallurgical coal product, while reporting an average price of $54.61/t for its thermal coal product, compared with a benchmark price of $52.56/t.
Whitehaven in December of last year increased its full-year RoM production guidance for 2016 from the previous estimate of between 18.8-million tonnes and 19.4-million tonnes, to between 19.5-million tonnes and 20.1-million tonnes.