In the six-month period ended December 2005, the company’s three mines in southeast Queensland produced 1.823 million tonnes with higher sales pushing up revenue by 54% to $A135.4 million.

The Acland mine near Toowoomba contributed 74% of production in the half year, and the West Moreton coal mines of Jeebropilly and New Oakleigh near Ipswich contributed 26% of production.

Stage 2 expansion of the Acland opencut mine will see production increase from 2.5 million tonnes per annum to 4Mtpa by April 2007.

“Our Acland resource has not only contributed well but the expansion of it, which is under way, plus promising exploration results and vacant land for future development, all underline prospects for growth,” said chairman Robert Millner.

The company said stage 3 expansion of Acland post-2010 is now being planned, with preliminary scoping studies under way. This is planned to offset future declining capacity from the West Moreton mines as coal reserves are depleted.

During the last six months New Hope has stepped up coal exploration activities and is spending 136% more than in the previous half year. Efforts are focused on exploration in the Darling Downs and Central Queensland and expanded deep drilling capacity.

“Drilling has confirmed the presence of thermal coal resources in the Darling Downs and hard coking coal in central Queensland, with evaluation and further drilling to be progressed,” the company said.

The company’s coal handling operations, through 50% owned Queensland Bulk Handling (QBH), reported a record throughput of 4.3Mt for the 12 months to December 2005. In the six months to December, throughput was 2.2Mt compared to 1.8Mt previously.

QBH is planning to expand its coal stockpile facilities at the Brisbane port.