BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance said that it will partly shut its Norwich Park coal mine in Australia’s Queensland state for one month beginning in June.

Ms Samantha Evans a spokeswoman for BHP Billiton Ltd said that three quarters of the mine’s staff have been asked to take leave during the closure. The alliance is a joint venture between BHP Billiton and Mitsubishi Corp.

BHP in January announced it will slash 6,000 jobs as the global recession curbed demand for minerals. The company cut 1,100 jobs from its coking coal operations in Queensland and said it would reduce output by as much as 15 percent because of slumping demand for the steelmaking material. Shipments from the mine will continue to meet timetables, Evans said.

(Sourced from Bloomberg.net)