The region’s coal companies, including majors such as Xstrata Coal and Rio Tinto, have united under a plan to accelerate the rate of coal exports through a new system.

Through the system industry would like to see more export capacity allocated to Newcastle Port.

The Newcastle proposal has been drawn up by the coal industry with the help of former NSW premier Nick Greiner.

Greiner recently completed his role as an industry facilitator, assisting the Hunter Valley coal industry to develop an industry export framework and a new allocation model for access to coal export facilities.

In the past six months Greiner met with 14 of the region’s coal mining chief executives and members of the Hunter Valley Coal Logistics Team.

“Greiner helped develop important initiatives that may both increase and allocate capacity in the Hunter Valley supply chain,” NSW Ports Minister Joe Tripodi said.

In the proposal industry had flagged the idea of a new logistics chief, the Hunter Valley Coal Chain Coordinator (HVCCC), which would be established to override the existing Hunter Valley Coal Chain logistics team.

Membership of the new logistics group would be open to producers as well as service providers. Industry also agreed to improve information sharing with HVCCC.

The industry would also like to see the method for allocating export capacity at Newcastle to be based on existing and historical use of the terminal.

The proposal includes a commitment by the Australian Rail Track Corporation to expand track capacity and a commitment to expand capacity at Port Waratah Coal Services, which operates two coal terminals at Newcastle.

Tripodi said the proposed framework was under review by the NSW Government and may need approval from the national competition authority.

“We want to work with industry and I understand the importance of making this process as quick as possible,” he said.

Prices for thermal coal shipped from Newcastle reached a record $A194.79 in July on the back of constrained infrastructure.