Tag: Whitehaven coal

Whitehaven Coal's total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR) for employees and contractors improved by 13% and its near miss frequency rate declined 22% on the prior year, according to its 2023 Sustainability Report.

4000 LTI-free days for Whitehaven’s Gunnedah CHPP

Whitehaven Coal’s (ASX: WHC) Gunnedah coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP) recently achieved 4000 Lost Time Incident (LTI) free days, equivalent to about 11 years without a Lost Time Incident. Production superintendent Derek Welsh says this achievement is a testament to the strong leadership and safety processes that have been diligently maintained within the CHPP. “I strongly believe that this achievement is the result of a work culture based on hard work and commitment to teamwork, strong inter-team support, personal ownership of systems and continuous improvement,” he said. “The team’s commitment to safety remains unwavering, even in the face of various challenges, including handling different coal types, increased production operations, and ongoing maintenance work that requires extended hours.” “Operators at…

The Winchester South metallurgical coal project is adjacent to the Daunia metallurgical coal mine which Whitehaven is acquiring (announced on 18 October 2023) from the BMA joint venture.

Big win for Whitehaven’s $1b Queensland coal project

Whitehaven Coal (ASX: WHC) has welcomed the Queensland Government’s approval of its greenfield $1b open cut coal mine, Winchester South. The State’s Coordinator General has accepted the environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Winchester South metallurgical coal project with an evaluation report and recommendation for the project to proceed, subject to environmental conditions. The Winchester South mine will produce up to 17mtpa of primarily metallurgical run-of-mine (ROM) coal (11mtpa product coal), from an estimated 380mt of reserves, which will supply the international steel-making market for 30 years. “The Coordinator General recommendation is an important milestone for Whitehaven, for the people of Queensland and for our trading partners who rely on Australia’s high-quality metallurgical coal, which is essential for steel production,”…

Whitehaven Coal: Prime position

Whitehaven Coal: Prime position

AUSTRALIAN coal is in demand for both energy and steel-making. Its high-energy, low ash characteristics ideally match the requirements for high efficiency, low emission (HELE) coal-fired power plants being built throughout Asia, while the high grade metallurgical coals are among the best in the world for modern steel making. Australian coal can also reduce emissions when compared to lower-quality coal from other exporters. Supplier reliability, proximity to key markets and good infrastructure availability puts Australia in a strong position to take advantage of growing demand from existing customers such as Japan, China, Taiwan and Korea, as well as newer buyers such as Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand. Coal mining in Australia is a sophisticated and hi-tech activity. Continuous improvements in…

When mining came to town

When mining came to town

WHEN it comes to the impact of mining companies on the local community, Jack Campbell is one of the biggest supporters. Jack and his family have been part of the Narrabri Shire for generations, and together with his father, run the family business Namoi WasteCorp, started in the town 19 years ago. “Due to Whitehaven Coal and the mining industry in the area – the Narrabri underground longwall mine – we have seen growth and found opportunities that would be unthinkable for small businesses in most small communities,” Jack said. “Namoi WasteCorp has provided waste collection and recycling services to all industries in the Narrabri shire since its inception, but now thanks to recent contracts awarded to us from mining…

Mining in the Hunter Valley: A red-hot go

Mining in the Hunter Valley: A red-hot go

As one of the nation’s largest coal producing regions, the Hunter Valley has remained steadfast in response to mounting global pressure over the mining of thermal coal for electricity. IT’S been a hive of activity in the Hunter Valley over the past few months. The region’s coalfields contain largely thermal and soft coking coal. Mines near the eastern edge of the basin are spread along the Hunter Valley from Newcastle in the south to Muswellbrook in the north, most of which are open-cut. Both soft coking and thermal coal products are produced from mines such as Hunter Valley Operations and Bulga. With the NSW Independent Planning Commission giving United Wambo the green light on August 29, the region will now…

Whitehaven Coal: A bumper year

Whitehaven Coal: A bumper year

WHITEHAVEN Coal has reported a record year amid falling coal prices, and has released its strategy to face climate change head on. The company reported a record net profit after tax before significant items of $564.9m, which put it up 8pc from FY18. This improved the total cash generated to $964.1m, and reduced net debt to $161m at June 30. ROM coal production was up 4pc on 2018 to 18.4mt, and both the Narrabri and Maules Creek mines’ strong finish to the year enabled the company to exceed production guidance. It reported an underlying NPAT of $564.9m and produced 23.2mt of ROM coal. This allowed it to declare 50c per share dividend for the year and payed out dividends equivalent…

Whitehaven Coal: a record year

Whitehaven Coal: a record year

WHITEHAVEN Coal has more than doubled its coal production over the last five years, with further upside expected ahead as its Vickery extension and Winchester South projects come online. The first half of FY19 saw Whitehaven Coal post a net profit of $305.8 million after tax, sales revenue grow by 11 per cent, and its net debt pile shrink to $244.2 million. While the company reported a positive outlook for the rest of 2019, it had downgraded its FY19 guidance from between 22 and 23 million tonnes to between 21.5 and 22.5 million tonnes amid issues at its Narrabri mine. But other than an expected decrease in production, it was clear skies ahead for Whitehaven Coal. In a recent investor briefing,…

Whitehaven Coal: Growth spurt

Whitehaven Coal: Growth spurt

All Images: Whitehaven Coal. BY CAMERON DRUMMOND ON the back of increased seaborne coal prices, Whitehaven banked record revenue during the first half of the 2017 financial year which enabled the company to pay down more than $300 million of debt. Whitehaven Coal is Australia’s largest independent coal producer, with five operating mines in North West NSW. The operations have a combined annual output of 20.1 million tonnes per annum (mtpa); however Whitehaven is undertaking expansion works at its flagship Maules Creek operation to increase its saleable coal output to 23mtpa by the 2019 financial year. Thermal and metallurgical coal is produced from one underground mine, Narrabri, and four open cut mines at Maules Creek, Tarrawonga, Werris Creek and Rocglen…