Record exports set to pour out of port Bianca Clare | 2nd July 2009
Print larger | smaller This view from Daleymple Bay Coal Terminal is from the end of the jetty looking back to shore. THE $1.3 billion expansion of Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal is complete and this month a record amount of coal is set to be exported.
DBCT chief executive officer Eric Kolatchew said there was demand for about 5.86 million tonnes of coal this July.
The record output for DBCT was 4.8 million tonnes in August 2008, during the resources boom.
DBCT's general manager of operations, Greg Smith said completion of the expansion had occurred at a time when the demand for coal exports was again seeing a marked increase.
“After experiencing a considerable drop in exports of metallurgical coals in November 2008, the market trend reversed in late February and has continued to climb since then due to strong sales with China in both metallurgical and thermal coals.”
Last month DBCT experienced a huge jump in demand with 4.7 million tonnes exported.
Mr Kolatchew said completion of the DBCT expansion marked the culmination of more than four years of intense engineering and construction.
“Phase 1 of the project was finished in March 2008 and increased our capacity to 68 million tonnes of coal per annum (Mtpa), and a subsequent phase completion in December 2008 brought it up to 72Mtpa,” he said.
“The new capacity of 85Mtpa will make DBCT the third largest export coal terminal in the world.”
The expansion means ship loading can now take place with three out loading conveyors feeding three ship loaders on four berths.
During the project's peak around 1000 workers were involved.
Mr Smith said indications have been received from coal producers for further export capacity beyond the expansion.
“Studies are currently under way to determine the shape and viability of future expansion.”
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