Glencore has scrambled to boost its Australian coal production on the back of soaring coal prices this year.  Image: Duncan Harris.

 

By Cameron Drummond


MINING giant Glencore has announced plans to restart mining at the Integra underground coal operation in the NSW Upper Hunter Valley for two years, potentially creating up to 275 new jobs.

It was the second time in as many months Glencore had decided to kick-start a shuttered coal mine, following an October announcement that it would reopen its Collinsville coal mine after halting production in December last year.

Glencore acquired Integra (formerly Glennies Creek) last year from Brazilian miner Vale with the mine already on care and maintenance since July 2014.

Glencore Australia head of coal operations Ian Cribb said the Integra mine had one already formed longwall block which provided an opportunity to begin mining with minimal delays or additional investment.

“Over the next two years, we also plan to complete and extract coal from a second longwall block that has already been partially developed at the mine,” Mr Cribb said.

Glencore expected to produce 1.3mt of saleable coking coal at Integra in 2017 to meet demand in the metallurgical coal market.

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