According to The Australian, the company plans to boost production from about 20 million metric tons (mt) a year to between 40 million mt and 43 million mt in 2014. About $5 billion of new port and rail infrastructure is planned in and around Newcastle over the next four years under a long term framework deal struck last year. The biggest potential addition to production for Coal & Allied is at its Mount Pleasant prospect, where the company is dusting off a 2007-08 feasibility study and updating it. Mount Pleasant, which is yet to be approved by the board, had the potential to produce 9 million mt of saleable coal a year. The aim was to start the mine in 2013 and be at full capacity by 2014. As the constraints on the coal system ease, about 2 million mt a year of extra coal should be able to be produced at each of the company’s three main operations. Coal & Allied also plans to expand its Bengalla mine.

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