Vale announced its coal production grew 12% quarter-on-quarter basis reaching 1.4 million metric tons (mt)—717,000 mt metallurgical grade coal and 701,000 mt of thermal coal. Met and thermal production at Integra Coal, located in New South Wales, Australia, was 327,000 mt and 57,000 mt respectively, in the first quarter of 2010. The El Hatillo open-pit coal mine, located in Colombia, is ramping up and produced 522,000 mt of steam coal during the first quarter. Production at Carborough Downs, in Queensland, Australia, reached 283,000 mt in the first quarter of 2010, versus 245,000 mt in the fourth quarter of 2009. The commissioning of a longwall at Carborough Downs in September 2009 and the replacement of conveyors, contributed to a record production in the first quarter of 2010.

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