Australian mining giant
BHP Billiton is reportedly planning to increase its
coking coal production capacity to 100 million mts by year 2010 due to rising prices.
Accordingly, the company will invest A$175 million ($123 million) to increase the
production at its BMA Coal and
BHP Mitsui Coal Pty ventures in Queensland. Expansion plan will also cover other
BHP Billiton companies.
The mines owned by
BHP Billiton produced 35.36 million tons of
coking coal in the fiscal year ended on June 30, 2004. With the planned capacity expansion, the
coking coal production is expected to reach more than 60 million tons.