The company reported that completion of the scheduled longwall changeout in the September quarter saw production of 0.998 million tonnes for the period – which is 52% lower than the previous corresponding period.

Full year ROM coal production is expected to be in the range of 6.6Mt to 6.8Mt in FY2016 as a second longwall changeout is scheduled for later in the financial year.

Saleable coal production for the quarter was 1.573Mt, slightly lower than the previous corresponding period.

Coal sales for the quarter were 1.550Mt. Coal stocks at the end of the September quarter were significantly below those at the end of the June quarter as stocks built up during the mining of LW 04 were processed and sold in the September quarter.

Mining in the fourth panel at Narrabri was completed at the end of July and mining recommenced in LW05 panel on schedule in the second week of September.

“A total of 6,110m of main and gate road development using three continuous miners puts Narrabri into the top performers for underground development in the industry,” the company said. “Development for the first 400 metre wide panel (LW07) is advancing to plan.”

Whitehaven’s total ROM coal production for the September quarter came to 3.9Mt – which is up 12% on previous corresponding period and had a strong contribution from its Maules Creek open cut mine in NSW.

Production at Maules Creek has ramped up to the anticipated annualised rate of 6.0Mtpa as evidenced by ROM coal production of 1.549Mt in the September quarter.

Saleable coal production from Maules Creek for the September quarter was 1.479Mt and coal sales were higher at 1.635Mt as some of the coal stocks built up during the pre-commercial phase of the project were washed and sold during the September quarter.