PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Coal miner Whitehaven Coal has reported a 34% decline in managed run-of-mine (RoM) coal production for the quarter ended June, compared with the previous corresponding period, while managed saleable coal production was also down by 39% in the same period.

RoM coal production for the June quarter reached 5.4-million tonnes, down from the 8.2-million reported in the June quarter of last year, while saleable coal production declined from 6.2-million to 3.7-million tonnes.

Total managed coal sales for the quarter were down 21%, to 4.5-million tonnes, compared with the 5.7-million tonnes reported in the previous corresponding period.

“Coal prices staged a remarkable recovery over the quarter, responding to increased economic activity as well as continuing supply-side constraints,” said Whitehaven MD and CEO Paul Flynn.

“Prices for high-CV thermal are at ten-year highs, and we will begin to see this materialize into strong free cash flow over the coming months.”

Flynn noted that the Maules Creek mine finished the quarter on a solid basis, and demonstrated its full potential over the course of the year, delivering record annual RoM production.

The mine produced 3.7-million tonnes RoM coal production, and 2.5-million tonnes of saleable coal production during the three months to June.

“Unfortunately, difficult geological conditions persisted at Narrabri through the second half, and having now navigated through this area we are focused on finishing the balance of the panel expeditiously and getting to the change out schedule for the second quarter of 2022,” Flynn said.

RoM coal production at Narrabri fell by 86% during the quarter, to 351 000 t, down from the 2.5-million tonnes in the previous corresponding period, while saleable coal production was down 88% to 306 000 t, from the 2.4-million tonnes in the June quarter of last year.

The Gunnedah opencut mines saw RoM production decline by 9%, from 1.5-million tonnes to 1.3-million tonnes, while saleable coal production was down 19% from just over 1-million tonnes to 884 000 t.

RoM production from Tarrowonga was down 2% in the quarter, to 796 000 t, while RoM production at Werris Creek was down 17% to 574 000 t. Saleable coal production from Tarrawonga was down 24%, to 469 000 t, while saleable coal production from Werris Creek was down 12%, to 415 000 t.

Looking at the full year guidance, Whitehaven is projecting ROM production to reach 20.4-million tonnes, while managed coal sales were projected at 17.9-million tonnes.