The Wilpinjong thermal coal mine in New South Wales will increase annual production by 2 to 3 million tons beginning in 2012 from the 9.2 million tons in 2010 after completing a preparation plant and coal handling facility expansion. The mine supplies export and domestic markets and is among Australia’s most productive surface operations. Capital investment for the project is expected to total approximately $95 million.
The Millennium mine in Queensland is targeted to increase PCI and semi-hard coal production by 1 to 2 million tons per year when full production is reached in 2013. Peabody has invested approximately $20 million of the expansion capital to date, with the majority of the investment of up to $275 million to be made over the next two years. Millennium sold 1.6 million tons in 2010.
Peabody also has reached a 10-year agreement with the Australian Rail Track Corp. for below-rail track access in the Hunter Valley rail network, beginning in January 2012. The contract covers expansion volumes from the Wilpinjong and Wambo mines in line with contracts and allocations in place with export terminals at the Port of Newcastle.
