Malvern hills

The Malvern Hills open cut coal mine is located near Coalgate, 70 kilometres west of Christchurch, in the Canterbury Region of the New Zealand South Island. It is a relatively small mining operation extracting coal from small to very small coal seams that are found in various places along the foothills on the eastern slopes of New Zealand's Southern Alps.

Coal has Been Mined in the Malvern Hills Area Since 1866
Coal has been mined in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand by more than 120 operators since 1866 and during that time it has produced more than one million tonnes. Most of the coal mined in the area during that time was extracted from underground mining operations taking place in the Mount Somers and Malvern Hills coalfields.

Malvern Hills Coal used in the Local Dairy Industry
The Malvern Hills open cut mine, that was acquired by Bathurst Resources Limited in August 2013 from Canturbury Coal, produces between 25,000 and 35,000 tonnes of sub- bituminous thermal coal a year for use as energy in boilers operated by local dairy processing facilities. At the time of the acquisition, Bathurst Resources won a three year contract to supply another closeby dairy milk processing plant.

Malvern Hills Mine to Lift Production to 100,000 Tonnes a Year
Bathurst Resources Limited is planning to increase the Malvern Hills mine's coal production level from 35,000 tonnes a year to 50,000 tonnes in the short term, and up to 100,000 tonnes annually in the next few years, to meet an expected increase in demand from the Canterbury Regions growing industrial and dairy industries. It is expected the demand for coal in the Canterbury area will grow to more than 150,000 tonnes a year in the not too distant future. The Malvern Hills mine is in an ideal position to take full advantage of this expected growth with it being in close proximity to industry in the area giving it a significant freight cost advantage.

Malvern Hills Mine Owner, Bathurst Resources Limited, Becomes a New Zealander
Bathurst Resources Limited, originally an Australian mining company, that became a bone fide New Zealand company in June 2013, opened its head office in Wellington New Zealand a month later in July 1, 2013. It now trades on both the New Zealand and Australian stock exchanges. All its operations and all its employees are now based in New Zealand.

Bathurst Resources Limited Heading for Growth
In 2014, Bathurst Resources Limited were employing around 100 staff and contractors following a local recruitment campaign, along with many who have returned to New Zealand from overseas. Most employees are New Zealanders and their numbers are expected to rise dramatically with the expanding operations on the West Coast about to take off. Particularly the ready to go Escarpment Project.
While the Escarpment project is on hold awaiting an improvement in the world coal price, production has started at the Gravel Pit at the Cascade mine. Bathurst Resources Limited has also purchased a 50 percent joint venture interest in the Kenroll Coal Handling Plant at Rolleston.
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