BHP to increase coking coal production by two-fold
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.