HCC production totalled 5.95 million between January and September of this year, level with the previous year on the back of longwall “outperformance” at the Kestral mine. Semi-soft coking coal rose 10%, meanwhile, due to mine production sequencing at Hunter Valley Operations and Mount Thorley Warkworth.
On the thermal side, production fell 3% to 13 million t on the company’s decreased share of production at Coal & Allied, following a restructure of those operations, and the divestment of the Bengalla mine in early 2016. This was partially offset by higher production at the Hail Creek and Kestral mines.
For the full year, the company expects HCC production of 7 – 8 million t, 3.9 million t of semi-soft coking coal and 17 – 18 million t of thermal coal.
