Mining

With low metallurgical coal prices and an already oversupplied market, re-opened coal mines will face significant challenges.

CIMIC Group subsidiary Thiess has been awarded an AUS$250 million contract by QCoal Group to continue operaion of the QCoal Northern Hub mines.

Anglo American’s Grasstree longwall coal mine obtains a new highest record for Australian underground coal production through reaching 10 million t of ROM coal in 2015.

Stanmore Coal is to restart metallurgical coal production at Isaac Plains after buying the mine from Vale and Sumitomo Corp. in August.

Wongawilli Colliery, the shuttered New South Wales coal mine, will restart mining operations in early 2016.

A round-up of the week’s coal news from updates on the latest coal projects to short-term outlooks on US coal production and prices.

Miners at the UK’s last deep coal mine, Kellingley Colliery, will end their final shift on Friday 18 December, leaving behind an estimated 30 million t of recoverable coal.

TerraSource Global has appointed Jason Burlage as President following the retirement of Mark Kohler earlier this year.

Joy Global has booked a US$1.343 billion loss in the three months to 30 October on the back of a US$1.199 billion writedown of its underground reporting unit.

US Representatives, Paul A. Gosar and Gary Palmer, have criticised proposed environmental regulations and the proposed changes to the Stream Protection Rule.

Glencore has announced that its proposed Blakefield North underground coal project has been placed on hold.

Kennametal Inc. is reducing its previously announced fiscal 2016 guidance as a result of weakening end market conditions.

Westmoreland Coal Co. has announced resumption of Buckingham mine operations following the restart of Conesville Unit 4.

Glencore is increasing its debt reduction targets to US$13 billion by the end of 2016 as it announces production cuts across its portfolio.

Lars Engström has been appointed President of Sandvik Mining and member of the Group Executive Management, replacing Scot Smith, who leaves the company.