MIM’s 75% owned Oaky Creek complex comprises the Oaky Creek No 1, Oaky North and Alliance longwall mines. Coal production from the complex for the June 2001 quarter was 10% higher than for the previous June quarter. Total production for the quarter was 1.707Mt and for the year 6.032Mt (75% share).

Oaky Creek No 1 produced 718,365t in the June quarter with annual production of 2.5Mt (75% of total). Oaky North produced 791,691t in the three months and 3.1 Mt for the year. Contract operation, Alliance, produced 197,889t and 404,108t.

Scheduled longwall moves at Oaky Creek No 1 and Oaky North mines were completed with washplant operation maintained from ROM stocks. The fourth module at the coal prep plant was completed in May for $25 million. The module will allow the complex to increase annual coal production by a further 1Mt.

Open cut mining resumed at Oaky Creek in July and will provide operational flexibility during a period of short panels at the No 1 underground mine and ultimate transfer of the No 1 operation to the South East area next year. Open cut production will also replace coal from the Alliance Colliery, scheduled for closure in 2002, with coking coal of a higher quality.

A longwall move is scheduled for September at the No 1 underground mine with output for the upcoming quarter expected to continue at the June quarter level.

At Newlands-Collinsville-Abbot Point (MIM 75%) complex, total coal output for the quarter was 23% higher than for the previous June quarter. A scheduled longwall move at the Newlands underground mine was commenced in June and will be completed in July.

The Newlands longwall mine produced 724,011t for the three months (75%) and 2.55Mt for the year.