OREANDA-NEWS. Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd., The Chugoku Electric Power Co., Inc. and Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation are pleased to announce that Boggabri Coal Mine which is owned by our respective Australian subsidiaries has completed its Expansion Project and held the Completion Ceremony today. Companies will improve quality of the coal produced and increase production of Metallurgical coal.

Located in New South Wales, Australia, Boggabri Coal Mine has been producing high quality thermal coal with high calorific value, low sulphur and low ash since its commencement of production in 2006 and production in 2014 was 5.58 million tonnes. It started the Expansion Project in 2012 which includes construction of a new coal handling and preparation plant, new train load-out and new product stockpile areas and, following the completion of the Expansion Project, we held the Completion Ceremony today. By utilizing these new facilities, we will improve quality of the coal produced and increase production of Metallurgical coal. We intend to produce 7 million tonnes of coal annually (around 20% increase compared to the actual production in 2014) from the mine for more than 20 years from now on.

Due to its stability of supply and economic efficiency, coal will continue to be an important energy resource and have a major role in energy mix in long-term energy supply-demand outlook. By supplying good environmental feature coals produced from the mine to electricity power and steel industries in a long term and stable manner, we will contribute to sustainable growth in the industries including steel industries in Asia and also energy security in Japan.