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Facts and Figures

Coal production statistics

 
New Zealand coal production in 2008 was 4.9 million tonnes, 1.5% up from 2007 production of 4.8 million tonnes. Production increased from the Spring Creek mine near Greymouth, while output from the Huntly East mine decreased. Almost all production is of bituminous and sub-bituminous coals.


Production is centred in the Waikato (1.8 million tonnes), on the West Coast (2.6 million tonnes) and in Southland (0.4 million tonnes). Five underground and 20 opencast mines were operating in 2008. Over 63% of national production was from two large opencast operations, at Rotowaro and Stockton.

 

Coal Production by Mining Method 1998-2008

Coal Production by mining method thumbnail 2007


Coal Production by Rank 1998-2008

Coal Production by Rank 1998-2007 Thumbnail graph

     

Production by Mining Method, rank and region for 2008 (kt)

Area

Rank

Method

Total

 

Bituminous

Sub- Bituminous

Lignite

Opencast

Under-

ground

 

Waikato 0 1,769.4 0 1,518.2 251.2 1,769.4

North Island

0

1,769.4

0

1,518.2

251.2

1,769.4

West Coast

2,476.8

134.7

0

 2,017.4

594.1

2611.5

Canterbury

 0

18.8

18.8

0

18.8 

Otago

 0

61.3

3,1.4

 62.7

0

62.7

Southland

 0

194.9

252.1

447.0

0

447.0 

South Island

2,2476.8

409.7

253.5

2546.0

594.1

3140.0

NZ TOTAL 

2,476.8 

2,179.1

253.5

4,064.1 

845.3

4,909.4

 

 

The Energy Data File has additional information about New Zealand’s Energy resources.

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Last updated 31 July 2009

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