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PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Mining major Rio Tinto on Tuesday confirmed that it would be cutting staff numbers at its Kestrel coal mine, in Queensland.
While giving no clear number of the targeted cuts, reports suggested that about 100 staff would be made redundant at the mine.
“The Australian coal mining industry is facing extremely challenging conditions, with prices continuing to decline through 2014 and the Australian dollar remaining strong,” a spokesperson for Rio Tinto told Mining Weekly Online.
“We have worked to significantly reduce costs and improve productivity across all Rio Tinto coal mines, but still more needs to be done.”
The spokesperson said that as part of the company’s ongoing efforts, staff numbers at Kestrel would be reduced to ensure the operation was competitive.
“We will be consulting with all employees about these changes and providing support for those affected,” he added.
Kestrel produces some 3.5-million tonnes of coking coal and 326 000 t of thermal coal a year.