First coal arrives at Newcastle's newest terminal
A lone QR bulk freight train delivered about 7000 tonnes of coal to the port of Newcastle's newest export terminal yesterday, more than two months out from the expected first export shipment.
First coal: NCIG terminal at Newcastle
The full load, from Peabody Energy's open-cut Wilpinjong mine, will be used to form the base of the stockpiles ahead of the first delivery of export coal in March.
The train movement was also used as an operational test of the rail loop, dump station, conveyors and stackers.
The $1bn Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group (NCIG) terminal is owned by coal companies BHP Billiton, Peabody, Centennial, Donaldson, Felix and Whitehaven.
NCIG hopes to load the first ships in May and increase annualised export volumes to 30m tonnes by the end of the calendar year.
The terminal has approval to expand to 66mtpa in the future.
