Coal & Allied has announced production
cutbacks at its three Hunter Valley, New
South Wales, sites. Port and rail allocations
will be reduced for the remainder of
2007. Coal & Allied Managing Director
Douglas Ritchie said the cutbacks were
unavoidable given the reduction in allocation
levels. “We need to reduce our
total production this year by approximately
20% to adapt to these revised
allocation levels,” Ritchie said. “The
changes are being implemented to bring
our production levels into line with the
reduced allocation of port and rail capacity
made available to all users. The current
system of allocation and planning is
clearly untenable. We are working with
other parties involved in the coal logistics
chain to develop a long term strategy to
provide a more stable basis for industry
to operate in.”
Ritchie said the production cuts will
mean the loss of 250 contractor jobs at
Bengalla, Mt. Thorley, Warkworth and
Hunter Valley Operations. Coal & Allied
said it would, “continue to maintain its
skills base to ensure it operates its mines
safely and efficiently.”