A roundup of international coal news from Feb. 12 to Feb. 19.
North America
Canada:
Asia
Pakistan:
China:
Australia
Adani is targeting mine acquisitions outside of Australia even as it struggles to develop its Carmichael coal mine in Queensland, Reuters reported Feb. 14. "We're also keeping our eyes open for options in other areas like south African countries, countries like Russia. We are not eyeing for specific grades, we are looking for viable options," said Rajendra Singh, COO of Adani's coal trading business.
Bowen Coking Coal Ltd. agreed to buy Cape Coal Pty. Ltd.'s 100% acquisition right over the Hillalong East coking coal project owned by Rio Tinto Exploration Pty. Ltd. The deal is expected to complete before the end of April.
Whitehaven Coal Ltd. declared an unfranked interim dividend of 13 Australian cents per share for first half of its fiscal 2018 after achieving strong results on the back of higher coal prices. The company did not pay a dividend in the same period a year earlier. Net profit for the period grew 63% year over year to A$257.2 million.
The Queensland department of environment and science rejected New Hope Corp. Ltd.'s application to overturn a May 2017 court decision rejecting an environmental license for its New Acland coal mine stage-three expansion project in Australia. A judicial review of the land court decision is scheduled for a hearing in the Queensland Supreme Court in March.
Aurizon Holdings Ltd. and major coal exporters are in a standoff after a Queensland, Australia, regulator proposed a cap on the revenue the rail operator can charge over four years to June 2021, Reuters reported Feb. 12. According to the report, the Queensland Competition Authority set the limit at A$3.89 billion, about 20% or A$1 billion less than the company sought, which may cut the rail operator's annual earnings by A$100 million per year.
TerraCom Ltd. added another year to the mine life of its Blair Athol coal mine in Queensland, Australia, on the back of an increase in JORC 2012-compliant reserves to 18 million tonnes, from 15.6 million tonnes. The mine life now totals nine years, based on an approximately 2-million-tonnes-per-annum operation, according to a Feb. 13 release.
NSL Consolidated Ltd. said Feb. 12 that on Feb. 9, the Supreme Court of Western Australia found that it did not repudiate a 2011 coal acquisition agreement with Birmanie Nominees Pty Ltd. The court said that Coal Hub Pty Ltd. was only entitled to a nominal sum of A$1,000 in damages, as NSL breached an implied term by certain delays on its part, but noted that it was not a repudiatory breach, as alleged by Coal Hub.
Africa
South Africa:
Tanzania:
As of Feb. 16, US$1 was equivalent to C$1.25 and A$1.26.
This feature was updated as of 11:50 a.m. ET on Feb. 19. Some external links may require a subscription.