THE bitter war between BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance and mining unions have cost BMA almost a million tonnes of coal.

In BHP's production report released, figures from BMA coal mines in Central Queensland take a clear whack in line with industrial action ramping up at the start of the year.

Although the rain was another hurdle to jump, the report makes plain it was largely industrial action holding back production at the metallurgical or metal making coal mines.

The report described disruptions to production and sales, leading to a bruised profit margin.

BHP also used the report to announce it had lifted the "force majeure" across the Central Queensland mines, touching on the preliminary deal it did with the three unions earlier this month.

During the three months to the end of 2011, BMA mined five million tonnes of coal, but that fell to just 4.2.million for the next three months a tumble of 800,000 tonnes.

For the following quarter which ended on June 30, it fell another 100,000 tonnes to 4.1.million.

During the June quarter in 2011, BMA was hitting producing almost 4.9.million tonnes of coal.

Source - www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au

(www.coalguru.com)