Components of underground equipment for the project are being manufactured in several countries while surface works, which include stockpile capacity expansions and surface electrical upgrades, are progressing on schedule.

Mining of the first 400m wide panel, longwall panel LW07, is expected to commence in the first half of CY2017.

ROM coal production at Narrabri for the March quarter was 2.056 million tonnes - 6% lower than the previous corresponding quarter.

Ground conditions temporarily slowed longwall mining in a section of LW105 during the quarter however production from longwall panel 105 is expected to be completed by mid-May 2016 and longwall production is forecast to recommence in late June 2016, the company said in its latest quarterly announcement.

Saleable coal production for the March quarter was 2.127Mt, an 18% increase from the previous corresponding quarter. Sales for the March quarter were 2.331Mt, a 42% increase from to the previous corresponding quarter.

Whitehaven reaffirms full year production guidance for Narrabri to be in the range of 6.6Mt to 6.8Mt ROM coal.