QR National has expanded contract tonnages in its long-term coal haulage agreement with Peabody Energy Australia Coal in NSW’s Hunter Valley.

 

Under the revised agreement QR National will haul up to 14 million tonnes of coal per annum (mtpa) – up from 12 mtpa – from their Wambo and Wilpijong mines to the Port of Newcastle until the end of 2020. The original contract began in January 2010.

 

The new agreement with Peabody Energy, the world’s largest private sector coal producer, lifts the total contract revenue to more than $500 million.

 

The contract provides transport for 100 per cent of Peabody Energy’s coal export task through the Port of Newcastle.

 

QR National Executive Vice President and CEO Coal Operations Marcus McAuliffe said the Company was focussed on performance-based contracts that were underpinned by reliability, certainty of supply and safety.

 

“QR National is delighted to strengthen and expand the long-term haulage contact with Peabody Energy,” Mr McAuliffe said

 

“We’ve now established a track record of performance in the Hunter Valley that has lifted QR National’s share of the export coal haulage business to around 30 per cent.

 

“In both the Hunter Valley and across Queensland, QR National has proven that we can meet our customer’s current needs and grow our capacity to match their growth aspirations,” Mr McAuliffe said.