Rio Tinto’s Coal & Allied Industries arm has reported a lift in coal production and sales for both the December quarter and 2009 year.
Coal and Allied’s share of coal produced in 2009 was 18.96 million tonnes (Mt), up from 18.61 Mt in 2008.
For the December 2009 quarter, the company’s share of coal output was 5.28 Mt, compared to 4.74 Mt for the previous corresponding period.
Its share of coal sales for the full year totalled 18.77 Mt, up from 18.66 Mt in 2008.
‘‘Total coal sales were in line with 2008 and allocated port capacity,’’ the miner said in a statement on Thursday.
Coal & Allied’s share of coal sales for the three months to December last year was 5.38 Mt against 4.8 Mt for the same quarter in 2008.
‘‘Coal & Allied has entered into long term take or pay contracts for port allocation with Port Waratah Coal Services which take effect from 1 January 2010,’’ the company said.
‘‘Similar long term take or pay contracts to secure equivalent rail track access and rail freight are still being negotiated.’’
Shares in Coal & Allied were up $1.06, or 1.23 per cent, at $87.56 in afternoon trade.
AAP
