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But the mine’s metallurgical coal production was down more than 12% when compared to the June quarter in fiscal 2008.
Wesfarmers attributed the drop to a planned 10-day coal handling and preparation plant shutdown in July.
The diversified miner reported an increase in steaming coal production from its Western Australian Premier mine, up 67%, and the Curragh mine, up 49%, when compared to the previous quarter.
A feasibility study is underway looking at expanding Curragh production to reach 8-8.5Mt of metallurgical coal a year.
Coal production for Wesfarmers’ open cut Bengalla mine in New South Wales was 519,000t, 19% lower than the previous quarter.
Wesfarmers holds a 40% stake in the Hunter Valley steaming coal mine and the drop in production was due to the miner operating in a less productive part of the mine sequence.
Yesterday, Australian investment bank Macquarie told Dow Jones news wires it had upgraded Wesfarmers stock to “outperform” with a price target of $A32.16.
Wesfarmers was trading up 7% in midday trade at $A22.72.
