Coal & Allied third quarter 2

RNS Number : 8699F

Rio Tinto PLC

15 October 2008

 



MEDIA RELEASE

15 October 2008

Production Report for the quarter ended 30 September 2008

	CNA	3Q	4Q	1Q	2Q	3Q	9 months	9 months
'000 tonnes (100% basis)	interest	2007	2007	2008	2008	2008	2007	2008
Hunter Valley Operations	100%
Thermal coal production		1,883	2,046	2,143	1,830	1,645	6,219	5,618
Semi-soft coking coal production		460	657	683	1,078	629	1,173	2,390
		2,343	2,703	2,826	2,908	2,274	7,392	8,008
Bengalla Mine	40%
Thermal coal production		1,394	1,376	1,053	1,607	1,296	3,779	3,956
Mount Thorley Operations (a)	80%
Thermal coal production		261	731	382	428	918	1,198	1,727
Semi-soft coking coal production		393	302	332	41	287	693	660
		654	1,033	714	469	1,205	1,891	2,387
Warkworth Mine (a)	55.6%
Thermal coal production		1,663	1,197	1,522	1,507	964	4,178	3,993
Semi-soft coking coal production		133	0	1	46	215	400	262
		1,796	1,197	1,523	1,553	1,179	4,578	4,255
Total Mount Thorley Warkworth		2,450	2,230	2,237	2,022	2,384	6,469	6,642
Total coal production		6,186	6,310	6,114	6,537	5,954	17,639	18,606
Total sales (b)		6,218	6,908	6,050	6,233	6,196	18,614	18,479
Coal & Allied share
Coal production		4,422	4,746	4,664	4,788	4,413	12,961	13,865
Coal sales ('000 tonnes)		4,531	5,087	4,571	4,660	4,625	13,847	13,856

• Production can be sourced from either mining lease and is allocated over the year based on the tonnage commitment ratio contractually agreed between the Mount Thorley and Warkworth joint ventures.

• Sales relate only to coal mined by the operations and exclude traded coal.

Production figures are sometimes more precise than the rounded numbers shown, hence small differences may result between the total of the quarter figures and the full year figures.

Production

Coal & Allied's total coal produced in the third quarter was at a similar level to the corresponding period in 2007 and eight per cent lower than the June quarter this year. During the quarter, Hunter Valley Operations was impacted by the annual coal preparation plant maintenance shutdown, higher stripping ratios and its proportion of semi soft coal production was influenced by seam presentation. Bengalla's coal production was lower than the June quarter, mainly as a result of coal seam sequencing. 

Overall, the proportion of semi soft coking coal production was in line with the June quarter, however the contribution was from different mines. This is consistent with Coal & Allied's desire to take advantage of the stronger semi soft market.

Sales

Coal sales in the third quarter were two per cent higher than the corresponding quarter in 2007 and in line with second quarter sales and allocated port capacity. 

Other

There was no exploration activity during the quarter.

Media Enquiries: 

Alison Smith   
[phone] / 0438 787 038                       

Investor Enquiries:

Simon Ellinor

[phone] / 0439 102 811

www.coalandallied.com.au

 

END

 

 

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