A longwall move at the nearby Moranbah North mine, which led to lower production in the March quarter of 2016 also helped increase the percentage gain for the March 2017 quarter.

Anglo American has decided to keep both the improved Grosvenor and Moranbah North mines after earlier deciding to divest the assets as a corporate strategy to exit the coal business.

The company’s Australian export thermal coal production decreased by 40% to 500,000t as Drayton ceased mining activities in October following the New South Wales Planning Assessment Commission’s recommendation not to approve the Drayton South Project.

Production was also impacted by Cyclone Debbie with production losses in the last week of March. 

“Mining activities have now restarted at all operations,” the company said.

“The impact on the rail network has been more material, and is still being assessed. It is expected that this will impact Q2 sales volumes.”

Turning to South Africa, primary and secondary coal production increased by 9% to 5Mt due to productivity improvements at most mines.

The sale of the Eskom-tied operating mines (New Vaal, New Denmark and Kriel) to Seriti Resources was announced on April 10, and is expected to complete by the end of 2017. 

These mines produced 5.7Mt in Q1 2017.

Isibonelo thermal coal production decreased by 23% to 900,000t due to a dragline fire that occurred during Q4 2016.

Production at Colombia increased by 7% to 2.8Mt, through productivity gains.