Anglo releases positive coal production results
Anglo American has released its Q1 2014 production report, showing an increase in both export metallurgical and thermal coal production.
Highlights
Export metallurgical coal production increased by 31% to 6.1 million t, a record quarter, mainly due to continuing productivity improvements.
Export thermal coal production from South Africa increased by 6% to 4.1 million t. Production from Cerrejón increased by 95%, reflecting the strike that affected the first quarter of last year.
Australia/Canada
Record production from underground operations helped Anglo’s increase of export metallurgical coal production, with longwall cutting hours at Grasstree (Capcoal underground) and Moranhag improving by 63% and 33%, respectively.
Australian export thermal coal production decreased by 49% to 0.8 million t, due to a product mix change with an increase in metallurgical coal production, while lower production from Drayton was due to the mine nearing the end of its life.
Construction work on the greenfield Grosvenor metallurgical coal project in Queensland is almost 50% complete. Critical engineering and procurement activities have been completed and the majority of the project budget has been contracted and committed. Longwall production remains scheduled to commence at the end of 2016 and within budget of US$ 1.95 billion.
South Africa
Export thermal coal production increased by 6% due to improved operational performance at Greenside and mine ramp up at Zibulo.
Production to Eskom was 9% lower at 7.4 million t due to excessive rainfall at New Vaal and a delayed start-up post the longwall move at New Denmark. Domestic non-Eskom production decreased by 10% to 1.4 million t due to excessive rainfall at Landau.
Colombia
Cerrejón’s production increased by 95% predominantly due to the effect of a 32 day strike during Q1 2013.
Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/24042014/anglo_q1_2014_coal_production_748/
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