Reuters reported that London-listed Xstrata Plc plans to close its United Colleries coal mine in Australia's Hunter Valley in March 2010, after the exhaustion of economically recoverable reserves.

The miner said that the mine currently produces 3 million tonnes per year of semi soft coking coal with a workforce of 174 full time employees and 46 contractors. A further 2 million tonnes of coal remained to be extracted before reserves were depleted.

Xstrata said that in September, 68 workers would be laid-off after completion of a long-wall development in the underground mine.

It said that a pre-feasibility study would consider further mining opportunities in the area.

The United Colleries coal mine has been operating since 1989.

(Sourced from Reuters)