Coal export terminals in New Zealand

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There are three Coal export terminals in New Zealand.

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Coal export terminals

The three coal export terminals or ports are:

• the Lyttelton Port of Christchurch, on the east coast of the South Island, exports coal from Solid Energy's Stockton mine as well as other West Coast mines such as those of Bathurst Resources. The port currently has an export capacity of approximately 2.5 million tonnes of coal a year. In late March 2012 the Lyttelton Port Company withdrew an application to expand its coal export terminal due to the need for repair work on existing facilities following the major 2011 earthquakes. In April 2010 the Lyttelton Port Company had applied to the Environment Court for 13 consent applications to reclaim 10 hectares of foreshore to enable it to expand its coal handling operations. The proposed expansion would have allowed exports of approximately 5 million tonnes per year. The Lyttelton Port Company stated that it was "looking at alternative ways within the existing port land to handle future growth". According to a Bathurst Resources investor presentation the Westport to Lyttleton railway has a capacity of 5 million tonnes per annum. Bathurst Resources states that it has an agreement with Solid Energy that it will export approximately 25% of its project coal through the Port of Lyttleton.

• Port Taranaki, is owned and operated by Port Taranaki Limited, a business owned by Taranaki Regional Council. The port, which is located on the west coast of the North Island, is set to export coal from Bathurst Resources coal mines on the West Coast. Coal from the Pike River mine, which closed following a November 2010 mine explosion which killed 29 people, was previously exported through the port. The port has the ability to load Panamax capable ships, which have a capacity of approximately 52,500 tonnes.

• Westport Harbour, is owned by Westport Harbour Limited, a subsidiary of the Buller Regional Council. Coal export facilities are currently being planned to handle a significant volume of coal exports from Bathurst Resources existing and proposed coal mines. The first shipment of coal from Bathurst Resources Cascade mine was dispatched to Port Taranaki from where it will be sent as part of a larger shipment to Asia. Bathurst Resources aims to export approximately 50-75,000 tonnes per annum from the Cascade mine. and is planning on exporting approximately 1-2 million tonnes per annum from the Escarpment mine and the Deep Creek mine. The three mines are a part of Bathurst Resources larger multi-mine Buller Coal Project. Bathurst Resources states that it has an "exclusivity agreement in place" with the port and that it will cost approximately "NZ$30 million to upgrade to over 2mtps [million tonnes per annum] capacity".

Articles and Resources

Related SourceWatch Resources

• New Zealand and coal
• New Zealand Mining Industry Association
• Solid Energy