South32 says Illawarra output to fall to 4.5Mt in FY18

Diversified miner South32 has given a production guidance for its Illawarra metallurgical coal operation, where the Appin colliery was suspended for about four months this year owing to concerns about a potential gas breach. The New South Wales-based Illawarra operation, which comprises the Appin and Dendrobium mines, is expected to produce 4.5-million tonnes in the 2018 financial year, down from 7.1-million tonnes in the 2017 financial year, ASX-, LSE- and JSE-listed South32 reported on Tuesday.