President and chief executive of Mitsubishi Ken Kobayashi has also signalled more mine closures, according to a report by Reuters.

"Global mining businesses have entered a new phase, where cost matters. Closing part of coal mines is an option to boost [our] cost edge," Kobayashi reportedly said.

Recent steep falls in coal and iron ore prices due to the slowing demand from China had forced Mitsubishi to revise its full-year profit outlook by nearly a third.

Last year the company’s joint venture coking coal mines were large contributors to profit when coking coal prices reached historic highs.

"We have done what [we're] going to do for now as far as investment in natural resources is concerned," Kobayashi reportedly said.

"While a fall in the cost of assets is attractive, we won't find easy coal, easy gas, easy copper projects any more."

Mitsubishi said it would hope to control costs at its existing mines by restructuring operations.

BMA said it would stop producing at its Gregory open-cut mine from 10 October 2012 after a continuing operational review of its Gregory Crinum operations found that the open-cut mine production was no longer profitable in the current economic environment of falling prices, high costs and a strong Australian dollar.

A continuing operational review will identify additional measures to further reduce operating costs, making remaining underground production more profitable, according to BMA.

BMA – which closed its Norwich Park mine in Queensland earlier this year – said it would also continue to review its remaining portfolio of assets to ensure that each operation can be cost competitive and profitable across the price cycle.