New Zealand state owned coal miner Solid Energy said that production and sales of coal rose in the fourth quarter, with all of its mines increasing output with the exception of Rotowaro and Huntly East.

The Christchurch based company, which is scheduled to have almost half of its equity floated on the local share market, said it mined 1.06 million tonnes of coal in the three months ending December 31, up 9 per cent on the same period a year ago.

Coal sales for the quarter rose 15% to 1.22 million tonnes when compared with last year, with sales of stockpiled fuel up 16% on the same period previously. Exports accounted for 639,000 tonnes, up 13% while New Zealand sales rose 16% to 585,000 tonnes.

On a six-monthly basis, total coal mined was 2.06 million tonnes, in line with last year, while coal sales for the half year rose 9% to 2.36m tonnes.

(Sourced from www.stuff.co.nz)