This confirms Narrabri as one of the top three underground coal mines in Australia, with Anglo American’s Grasstree mine heading the pack with its production of 10Mtpa for 2015.

Approval by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment to increase Narrabri’s annual production limit from 8.0Mtpa to 11.0Mtpa points to the future potential of the mine, the company said.

ROM production for the December quarter was 2.464Mt and for the half year was 3.462Mt, higher by 220% and 21% respectively, compared to the previous corresponding periods.

A longwall changeout was also undertaken in the December 2014 quarter.

“Mining in the fifth longwall panel is expected to be completed during the June quarter 2016 with the exact timing dependent upon the production rate over the next few months,” the company said.

A total of 5,450m of main road and gate road development was completed during the quarter. The total for the half year was 11,560m.

Saleable coal production for the quarter and half year was 2.168Mt and 3.741Mt respectively. Both were significantly higher than for the previous corresponding periods.

Sales for the quarter and half year were 2.183Mt and 3.733Mt, higher by 56% and 17% respectively.