Recommencement of operations is now scheduled in the first quarter of FY16-17, the company said in its March quarterly report.

“Discussions are ongoing with mining contractor Delta SBD regarding involvement in the operations at Wongawilli,” Wollongong Coal said.

The mine’s current Pt3A approval has been extended until 2020 to allow extraction of the remaining approved coal blocks in the Nebo and Elouera areas.

All subsidiary environmental approvals have been sought and obtained to allow extraction to commence, the company said.

“There were no complaints and three very minor environmental incidents occurred during the quarter,” it said.

They consisted of minor amounts of white precipitate found in a stream; small amount of coal fines entering an onsite stormwater channel; and a small volume of hydraulic fluid being removed from a bund and percolating into the soil.

“The incidents were investigated and reported to regulators who, due to the minor nature of the incidents, requested action be taken to prevent recurrence and a report be prepared outlining preventative measures be submitted by the end of April 2016,” it said.

The Russell Vale Colliery remains on care and maintenance. A small care and maintenance team are managing the asset with activities focused on maintaining equipment operability and the underground environment no production was completed during the March quarter.