This extra PWCS port capacity was awarded as part of the PWCS annual nominations process.
The increased capacity is directly linked to the completion timing of the new PWCS Terminal 4 facility. PWCS has stated it will continue to explore opportunities for expediting the delivery of capacity from each expansion.
“This additional port capacity provides support for Whitehaven’s planned growth in export coal production up to approximately 15Mtpa over the next five years,” Whitehaven managing director Tony Haggarty said.
PWCS is currently completing major expansion projects which will see it exhaust its current planning approved loading capacity footprint of 145 million tonnes, while the company is preparing to commence delivery of its Terminal 4 (T4) proposal.
T4 is an entirely new coal loading terminal which, subject to planning approvals, would cost in the vicinity of $A5 billion and deliver a further 120Mt of additional vessel coal loading capacity at Newcastle, almost doubling PWCS capacity. It is intended to be operational by 2015.
T4 is also the subject of an intensive planning and environmental assessment phase with the NSW and Commonwealth governments. In March 2011, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission – which authorised Newcastle’s complex coal export plan - publicly stated PWCS was working hard to deliver T4 “expediently”
PWCS was recognised as Australia’s best port and terminal operator at the 2011 Lloyds List Australian Shipping and Maritime Industry awards.
PWCS chairman Michael Harvey said the award was testimony to PWCS’ determination to provide sufficient coal loading capacity for the Hunter Valley coal industry.
“This award is a tribute to the many PWCS employees and contractors who have worked so hard to maintain our status as the world’s largest and foremost coal loading export terminal,” Harvey said.
