As the axe hovers above Spring Creek, a newcomer to the West Coast mining scene, Crusader Coal, is hoping to reopen the Terrace underground mine at Reefton within the month.
State-owned Coalcorp (now Solid Energy) bought the century-old relatively small mine in 1988, but mothballed it in June 2009, when it was unable to conquer 'heating' problems. Miners were transferred to other mines on the West Coast, including Spring Creek.
In December, the Australian Crusader Coal completed the purchase and company director Bernie Lambley said he hoped to resume mining at the Terrace in the near future with an initial workforce of five.
"We are hoping to start mining at the end of September, provided that we get through our final hurdles (resource consents) with the regional and district councils," he said.
At full production the mine should employ 10 staff.
Mr Lambley recently said that the first 12 months would be spent mainly on developing new areas underground for coal extraction but he hoped to produce 30,000 to 40,000 tonnes a year during that phase.
"Once full production is reached we expect the mine to produce 60,000 to 70,000 tonnes of coal a year."
Solid Energy's best year at the Reefton mine won 73,000 tonnes.
Meanwhile, Mr Lambley expressed sympathy for the Spring Creek miners currently on tenterhooks waiting for Solid Energy to decide whether or not it will put that mine into care and maintenance, at the cost of more than 200 jobs.
"I have been in mining all my working life, as have the other members of the Crusader team, so we have been involved in both sides during retrenchments, and it is not good for any involved."
- Tui Bromley of the Greymouth Star
