Hunter Valley production received a boost from the purchase of Rio Tinto’s coal interests in New South Wales, which include the Howick mine.

Production of thermal coal rose to 2.78 million tonnes from 1.5Mt, while coking coal production increased to 1.67Mt from 1.27Mt in the first half of 1999.

However, thermal coal production at the Hunter Valley mine was limited by a contractual dispute with a significant domestic customer. Deliveries to that customer ceased between the third quarter of 1999 and March 2000.

“Mount Thorley operations were affected by a dragline rebuild, which stopped mining for 28 days; industrial action, which resulted in 20 lost days during the half; and wet weather,” Coal & Allied CEO Gerard Parlane told MiningNews.net.

Thermal coal production at the mine fell to 858,000t from 1.17Mt, and coking coal output dropped to 1.1Mt from 1.31Mt.

Total coal production for the two operations rose to 6.4Mt from 5.26Mt, while sales rose to 6.51Mt from 5.14Mt.