Following an upgrade at its Narrabri longwall and pre-commercial production from Maules Creek production is expected to be about 14.5Mt (100% basis) in FY2015.

Its approved Vickery project provides another growth option beyond FY2018, the company said.

It has reported that are unit production costs were down 20% from H1 FY2013 to $63/t in H1 FY2015 and costs were expected to fall another $1/t to $2/t in the current half.

“Whitehaven has successfully maintained margins over the past six quarters while the coal price has declined,” it said.

“Costs are positioned in the lowest quartile of the cost curve.”