Stanmore company produced 309,000 tonnes of ROM coal and 231,000t of saleable coal during the quarter.

Overburden and coal mining in the northern pits progressed at a run-of-mine strip ratio of 17.1:1 for the quarter.

“While the June quarter ratio is higher than the three year average ratio of 13:1 for the current Isaac Plains open cut area, this is typical for operational ramp-up where overburden is advanced to allow steady state coal mining to occur,” the company said.

“The ROM strip ratio for the September quarter is anticipated to trend toward the forecast life of mine strip ratio of circa 13:1.”

During the quarter the company completed recommissioning works at the washplant facilities and handed operatorship to Golding.

A number of additional capital works have been carried out since the handover due to noted issues with performance and reliability of the plant.

Further capital items are planned for the September quarter in order to optimise total washing yields and the proportion of coking product delivered.

As a result of the initial start-up issues encountered and coal mining from a lower quality section of the pit, a significantly higher proportion of thermal coal was produced in the quarter – 39% of the total – with surplus coal being sold on a spot basis.

The lower quality area is largely mined out, with improved raw coal anticipated through the plant and a more typical coking-thermal split going forward.

Highwall mining activities started in June following the appointment of UGM Highwall Mining.

“Highwall mining represents a short-term, low cost, low impact incremental increase to production from the existing disused S2 pit in the south of the mining lease,” the company said.

“Increased coking coal production is planned to be first utilised for the existing steel customers in Japan and Korea with any surplus tonnage potentially being used to establish new customers.”