Xstrata PLC : Xstrata Coal resumes operations at Blakefield South mine

Sydney, 30 May 2012

Xstrata Coal has resumed operations at its Blakefield South mine, and expects to return to full production by mid-July.

Operations at Blakefield South mine ceased in January 2011 when an underground fire ignited behind the mine's longwall.  Mine personnel were unable to re-enter the mine until June 2011 to begin planning and rebuilding the longwall.  

Longwall production resumed on May 15 this year, six weeks ahead of schedule.  

Mine personnel redeployed at Beltana, West Wallsend and Ravensworth Underground Operations during the Blakefield South closure have been recalled.  Newly-recruited staff are presently training at Xstrata Coal's underground training facility at Baal Bone mine in western New South Wales.

"Our team at Blakefield South has done an amazing job to safely recover the mine after the fire, rebuild the longwall, and resume production ahead of an ambitious timetable," Operations Manager, Mark Munro said. "We thank them for their commitment and resourcefulness."

Blakefield South underground is part of Xstrata Coal's Bulga Complex, which also includes an open cut mine and a coal handling and preparation plant.

Blakefield South produces approximately 10 million tonnes of semi soft coking and thermal coal each year for export, primarily to Japan.

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Xstrata contacts:

Francis De Rosa
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Alison Flynn
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About Xstrata:

We are one of the world's largest mining and metals companies - a major producer of seven commodities used in everything from constructing buildings and delivering electricity to developing jet engines and mobile phones. We operate in more than 20 countries and employ more than 70,000 people globally.

Xstrata Coal is the world's largest exporter of seaborne thermal coal used to generate electricity and one of the largest producers of coal used to make steel. Our headquarters are in Sydney and we have interests in over 30 operating coal mines in Australia, South Africa and Colombia and exploration projects in British Columbia, Canada.