News: YAL Yancoal Australia says Donaldson operation to go on care and maintenance

March 2 (Reuters) - Yancoal Australia Ltd (YAL) :

• From 14 March, the Donaldson Operation will reduce its current mining

  activities from the running of three mining units to two at its abel underground mine

• Donaldson operation will move to care and maintenance in June, following a

  reduction in mining activities,commencement of new feasibility studies

• Move to maintenance is in response to ongoing global market challenges as

  operation considers future development of new underground working areas

• Will also commence offering voluntary redundancies across its abel, ashton

  and austar underground operations prior to the move to care and maintenance

• Says Yancoal will work to redeploy immediately-affected employees to its

  neighbouring ashton underground mine

• Is seeking expressions of interest from donaldson employees willing to move

  to austar and ashton

• Says Yancoal will continue to engage with its employees throughout the change

  in operations to ensure they understand their options

• Says anticipated 11 fulltime roles will be required to support the operation

  as it moves to care and maintenance

• Is committed to redeploying affected donaldson employees across its hunter

  valley underground operations

• Says care and maintenance includes the ongoing rehabilitation of the

  donaldson site in accordance with existing approvals