JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Wesfarmers has significantly increased its fourth-quarter production at the Curragh mine, in Queensland, relative to the third quarter, but its full-year metallurgical coal production is down on last year’s, while steaming coal output increased only marginally.
For the quarter ended June 30, Wesfarmers produced 2.97-million tonnes at Curragh, comprising 2.14-million tonnes of metallurgical coal and 826 000 t of steaming coal. The quarter’s production was an increase of 61.4% on that of the previous quarter, when significant rainfall severely hampered mine operations.
However, for the 12 months to June 30, metallurgical coal production decreased by 19.3% year-on-year to 7.32-million tonnes, while steaming coal production increased by 2.4 % year-on-year to 3.26-million tonnes.
At the Bengalla mine, in New South Wales, Wesfarmers’ share of coal was 786 000 t for the quarter, 14.4% below the previous quarter, owing to operating in a less productive section of the mining sequence. For the 12 months to June 30, Wesfarmers’ share of coal production increased by 2.4% year-on-year to 3.38-million tonnes.