New Hope Group has recorded an increase in coal sales for the three-month period ending April 30, among other operational highlights.
The company sold 2.7 million tonnes (Mt) of coal for the period, a three per cent increase from the prior period.
A total of 2Mt were sold from the Bengalla coal mine in New South Wales and 688,000 tonnes (t) were sold from the New Acland coal mine in Queensland, a four per cent and two per cent increase respectively.
“Bengalla mine is on track to achieve the midpoint of its 2025 financial year saleable coal production guidance range of between 10.1Mt and 10.9Mt, on a 100 per cent basis,” New Hope said.
New Hope saw a one per cent increase in saleable coal production, delivering 2.75Mt for the period. Bengalla produced 2Mt, a three per cent increase, and New Acland produced 702,000t, a four per cent decrease.
“Prime waste movement of 11.9Mbcm (bank cubic metres) was 11.4 per cent higher than the previous quarter due to improved equipment availability, higher production rates and favourable mining conditions,” New Hope said.
“Run-of-mine (ROM) coal production was 2.2Mt, down 15.8 per cent as the mine cycled into the higher strip ratio portion of the resource. ROM inventory built during the prior quarter was unwound to maintain consistent feed to the Coal handling and preparation plant.”
Prime waste movement at New Acland also saw a jump.
“Prime waste of 4.4Mbcm was moved from the Manning Vale East and Willeroo pits during the quarter, up 6.7 per cent compared to the previous quarter, reflecting strong mining performance despite unfavourable weather,” New Hope said.
“ROM coal production was 1.8Mt, a 12.9 per cent increase on the previous quarter following steady exposure of coal blocks.”
New Hope plans to increase coal production at New Acland to five million tonnes per annum by developing the Manning Vale West mining area.
“Mining across both Manning Vale East and Willeroo pits continues to be on schedule, with the final onboarding of employees completed during the quarter,” New Hope said.
“New Acland Mine now has over 300 employees working at the operation. Further intakes are planned when mining commences in the Manning Vale West pit in the second half of 2026.
“The ramp up (of New Acland) will be in line with the onboarding of rolling stock and available rail paths, which are scheduled to increase over the next 12–18 months. Construction of access roads and other infrastructure will continue through 2025 and early 2026.”
New Hope closed the three-month period ending April 30 with $155.2 million in underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation.