News: Bathurst Resources prepares coking coal project for production

Bathurst Resources (ASX:BRL, NZX:BRL) can now proceed with operations to move its Escarpment Mine Project in New Zealand into production once global coking coal prices recover.

About 35,000 tonnes of coal are expected to be recovered in the first six months of site work.

This follows the receipt of the Authority to Enter and Operate (AEO) for the project from the landowner – the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Initial works will comprise site clearing, establishing initial water management dams and drainage systems, installation of coal stockpile areas, site roads and basic infrastructure including a site office and amenities.

Coal production areas will be cleared and other earthworks will be undertaken to prepare the site to transition to steady state operations.

Coal recovered in the initial construction phase will be sold into the domestic industrial market.

Some coal will also be dispatched for trials to coke and steel producers in Japan, India and other Asian markets.

The initial construction phase is also an important first step towards developing a full scale export coking coal operation.