Australian coking coal producer Curragh, a subsidiary of Westfarmers Resources, has revised its estimate of volumes to be sold in 2010 to 6 million-6.5 million mt, down from 6.2 million-6.7 million mt, following heavy rains in recent weeks, the company said in a statement to the Australian stock exchange Monday.
The estimates are subject to a return to more normal weather conditions for the remainder of the year, Westfarmers Resources Managing Director Stewart Butel said.
Curragh declared force majeure on all export and domestic contracts on December 2, which remains in force, Curragh added. This resulted from operations being temporarily suspended due to flood water cutting access roads to the mine at the time.
Metallurgical coal mining at Curragh, Curragh East and Curragh North progressively returned to normal following the flooding of the Mackenzie River that hit a peak on December 7, the company said. More recently, further heavy rain on December 11 has again affected operations, but all access roads remain open and operations are continuing.
Curragh Mine predominantly produces three products: low ash hard coking coal, pulverized coal injection coal and high ash steaming coal. Curragh's hard coking coal is low in volatile matter (21%) and ash (7%), with 60% CSR, 9.5% total moisture, 0.6% sulfur and 0.05% phosphorous.
The Curragh deposit is within the Rangal Coal Measures with coal mined from the Aries, Castor, Pollux and Pisces seams. The coal is railed 300 km, or 186 miles, from the mine to the port at Gladstone. the company has been supplying coking coal to steelmakers worldwide since 1984.
The estimates are subject to a return to more normal weather conditions for the remainder of the year, Westfarmers Resources Managing Director Stewart Butel said.
Curragh declared force majeure on all export and domestic contracts on December 2, which remains in force, Curragh added. This resulted from operations being temporarily suspended due to flood water cutting access roads to the mine at the time.
Metallurgical coal mining at Curragh, Curragh East and Curragh North progressively returned to normal following the flooding of the Mackenzie River that hit a peak on December 7, the company said. More recently, further heavy rain on December 11 has again affected operations, but all access roads remain open and operations are continuing.
Curragh Mine predominantly produces three products: low ash hard coking coal, pulverized coal injection coal and high ash steaming coal. Curragh's hard coking coal is low in volatile matter (21%) and ash (7%), with 60% CSR, 9.5% total moisture, 0.6% sulfur and 0.05% phosphorous.
The Curragh deposit is within the Rangal Coal Measures with coal mined from the Aries, Castor, Pollux and Pisces seams. The coal is railed 300 km, or 186 miles, from the mine to the port at Gladstone. the company has been supplying coking coal to steelmakers worldwide since 1984.
