The outcome is significant given that it is the first longwall in this New South Wales basin and only started cutting coal a year ago, with a considerable amount of clean skins in its workforce.
The production rate, which was up 81% year on year, also suggests the mine could perhaps strive for up to 8Mt per annum ROM when its nameplate capacity is 6Mtpa.
A weekly production record of 193,000t ROM was also set at the mine in early November.
However, production has tailed off since the quarter with a panel change recently underway and longwall mining to resume at the mine’s third block in early March.
Overall the Gunnedah Basin coal miner’s share of total production from four mines was 2.55Mt – a 34% increase year-on-year.
Early rail line construction work for Whitehaven’s mammoth, 13Mtpa- targeting Maules Creek open cut project in the region remains underway with equipment and services contracts expected to be awarded from late January.
Despite the encouraging production news, Whitehaven shares failed to gain much traction as the company warned it expected to receive $US101 a tonne for its metallurgical coal exports in the March quarter compared to $103/t it received in the December quarter.
