Terrace mine
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{{#badges: CoalNewZealand|Navbar-NZcoal}}The Terrace mine was a small underground coal mine located near Reefton on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island.
Contents
Background
The mine was owned and operated by Solid Energy[1] until the uneconomic mine was closed in June 2009 and subsequently sold to Crusader Coal in December 2011.[2][3]
In a 2005 brochure on the mine Solid Energy stated that "the mine began as a private mine in the early 1900s when it produced 5,000 tonnes of coal per annum. Terrace was purchased by Solid Energy in 1988. It now produces between 65,000 and 100,000 tonnes of coal per annum, an increase from the 25,000 tonnes, produced in 2000." The company stated that the mine "has potential access to approximately 700,000 tonnes of coal and Solid Energy has an exploration programme underway to identify further reserves."[4]
New plans
Crusader Coal has flagged plans to reopen the mine in mid 2012. The company states that it has developed an initial 10 year plan for the mine and is proposing to produce approximately 60-70,000 tonnes of coal a year.[5]
Announcing the conditional sale of the mine in December 2010, SOlid Energy stated that "Solid Energy's predecessor, State Coal, began operations in Reefton in 1946 when it bought Reefton Coal Company. Terrace Mine was first set up in the early 1900s and remained in private ownership until 1988 when Solid Energy (then Coalcorp) bought a controlling stake. Terrace's production peaked in 2002/03 at a little over 73,000 tonnes but from 1999 until operations ceased its average production was 45,000 tonne a year."[2]
New owners
At the time of the sale, Crusader Coal were described as "a private company owned by a small group of people with experience in coal mining in New Zealand and Australia". A director of the company, Bernie Lambley, stated that "we only wish to say that Crusader Coal is owned by a small team of successful underground coal mining professionals who are looking forward to reopening the mine and participating in the local community."[2]
Project Details
Owner: Crusader Coal
Location: Reefton, West Coast of the South Island
Coordinates: -42.112988,171.869333
Status: Suspended pending redevelopment by new company
Production capacity: approx 60-70,000 tonnes per annum proposed.[5]
Type of coal:
Employees: Crusader proposes that five staff would be employed during redevelopment and 12 when operating[6]
Main markets: Solid Energy's industrial customers on the West Coast and upper South Island.[5]
Articles and Resources
Sources
- ↑ Ministry of Economic Development, "Operating coal mines", Ministry of Economic Development website, accessed March 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Solid Energy, "Crusader Coal Ltd buying Terrace Coal Mine at Reefton", Media Release, December 21, 2010.
- ↑ "Sale of Terrace Coal Mine at Reefton completed", Media Release, December 29, 2011.
- ↑ Solid Energy, [http://www.sourcewatch.org/images/1/1d/Terrace_factsheet.pdf "Terrace mine'}, Solid Energy, May 2005.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Michael Berry, "Mothballed mine 'producing in year'", Business Day, January 28, 2012.
- ↑ Solid Energy, "New Reefton opencast mine helps ensure supply for Solid Energy South Island customers", Media Release, October 28, 2011.
