Huntly east

The Huntly East underground coal mine in New Zealand has been producing a high energy, sub-bituminous, low sulphur and low ash coal since 1978. Its two productive coal seams are from eight to 20 metres thick and lie at a depth of from 400 to 150 metres. The mine produces around 450,000 tonnes of coal a year with most of it purchased by New Zealand Steel for use at its nearby Glenbrook steel mill, however, Huntly East coal is also found to be suitable for a wide range of other uses, primarily electricity production and general undustrial use.

Huntly East Mine Entry is Under the Waikato River
The Huntly East coal mine is located north of the Huntly township in New Zealand and around 100 kilometres south of Auckland. It is entered where its surface infrastructure is established on the eastern side of the Waikato River. Underground roadways, constructed at a depth of 150 metres below the river, lead to the mine itself that is situated on the western side of the Waikato River. The coal that has been mined is loaded onto a railway at the mine that connects to the main trunk line nearby.

It has been estimated that there is around seven million tonnes of recoverable coal available at the Huntly East coal mine in areas that have already been approved for mining. There is also a further 12 million tonnes available nearby that can be accessed for expansion at a later date.

Coal Mined at the Huntly East Mine With use of Remote Controlled Continuous Miners
Coal is mined at the Huntly East underground mine with the assistance of large remote controlled and electric powered continuous miners. These giant machines load the extracted coal onto shuttle cars that take it to conveyor belts which take it to the surface. On the surface the coal is first sized and screened before being loaded into bins that take it to where it is distributed from road and rail loadout areas depending on its destination.

Most Huntly East Coal Used at Glenbrook Steel Mill
The vast majority of Huntly East coal, about 95 percent, is taken directly by rail to the Glenbrook steel mill. Steel is made at the Glenbrook mill from iron that is produced in the mill's blast furnaces that use coal and coke as a reducing agent as well as an energy source. Huntly East coal is also sold to horticultural suppliers in the North Island, light industrial companies, timber processing businesses, meatworks and lime manufacturers.

Huntly East Coal Mine Owned by Solid Energy
The Huntly East underground coal mine is owned and operated by Solid Energy New Zealand Limited, the largest coal mining company in New Zealand. Solid Energy is a state owned mining company that was formed in 1987 from the then government department owned, State Coal Mines. Solid Energy New Zealand Limited produces a total of around four million tonnes of coal a year from all its coal mines with 70 percent of its production used in the making of steel.

Approximately 200 people are employed at the Huntly East coal mine by Solid Energy New Zealand Limited. The company offers valuable work experience for young people who reside in the area as well as providing many apprenticeships. Additional employment opportunities are made available through contractors employed by the mine along with transportation and coal haulage opportunities.
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