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Saleable production reached 0.97 million tonnes in the recent quarter, compared to 1.27Mt from the last three months of 2010.
Both the Coppabella and Moorvale mines had limited stockpiles before the wet season struck as Central Queensland had been caught off-guard by abnormally high rainfall for the months of August and September.
A total of 956mm of rainfall struck the Coppabella mine during the recent quarter, hurting the mine’s key Johnson and Southern pits.
Pumps are continuing to remove the in-pit water.
But Macarthur said the dragline was able to remove overburden in most instances, while other equipment was parked-up.
The nearby Moorvale open cut mine had similar operating difficulties to Coppabella as it received 708mm of rainfall in the December quarter.
Total run-of-mine production also slipped 24% year-on-year during the quarter while overburden removal fell 20.3%.
The wet weather also cut down the exploration rig fleet from six to three with progress at the Olive Downs South project, in the Olive Downs North mining lease, along with pre-production drilling at the Moorvale mine under development.
The first stage construction of Moorvale’s coal handling and preparation plant was finished in the December quarter, while commissioning will take place before the end of March.
Earthworks for the mine’s rail spur were set back by the heavy rainfall, but this connection to the Goonyella rail network is expected to be finished during the second half of 2011.
On Christmas Eve, Gloucester Coal exercised its call option to gain a further 20% stake of the Middlemount joint venture.
Macarthur has received $A52.6 million consideration so far, while a second payment of $45 million is due on June 30, which will reduce Macarthur’s stake in the JV to 50%.
Despite the weather impacts, Macarthur settled contracts for the current quarter with prices increasing “in line with market settlements of metallurgical coal as a result of supply disruptions in Queensland”
Macarthur shares were down 3.1% to $12.89 this morning.
