Since production halted Solid Energy management has reviewed its development and mining systems and practices, and is now ready for extraction trials.

"We are effectively running the whole system to check out how it's going to perform against our plans, and then at the end of next week we'll be in a position to make a fuller statement about where to from here," chief operating officer Barry Bragg told The Press (Christchurch).

While production has been halted, mine workers have been focused on development, an area the mine had been struggling with prior to shut-down.

"It’s pretty clear these trials next week are the next big hurdle to get through, and even if they give the go-ahead to recommence extraction, that will be against very clear milestones and targets," explained Solid Energy communications manager Vicky Blyth.

Spring Creek, near Greymouth on the South Island, moved into full production mid-2004 but has thus far failed to meet a full-production target of 800,000 tonnes per annum.

Spring Creek was the replacement for Strongman 2 Mine, which closed in August 2003. Like its predecessor, Spring Creek uses a high-pressure hydraulic monitor at the coal face.

In September, the mine was forced to evacuate after gas readings hit a critical level.

The shutdown of the mine is reportedly costing Solid Energy $NZ2 million ($US1.38 million) a month in lost revenue.