He said the company had a highly skilled management team and workforce with a demonstrated capacity of delivering large, new projects and for improving efficiency in operating mines.

“These skills can be used in developing new projects and with existing mines. Whitehaven wants to continue growing and building on the achievements of the past decade,” Vaile said.

He said at its Maules Creek mine in New South Wales, the use of ultra-class equipment – trucks and excavators – increased productivity and reduced costs. 

“Up the road at our underground Narrabri operation, the longwall with its newly installed 400 metre wide face is fully automated and was one of the first in Australia to be equipped with a computerised operating system which enables horizon control,” Vaile said.

“It is pleasing that Narrabri is now one of the most productive underground mines in Australia and consistently outperforms its original design capacity.”

Vaile said with Whitehaven’s high quality coal helping countries across the region lower their carbon emissions, the company was ensuring it was well-placed to meet the increased global demand for cleaner coal. 

“It would be a positive outcome for Australia if some of the high efficiency, low emission coal generating capacity were installed in Australia in the near future as a way of ensuring affordable and reliable electricity for the community,” he said.