Background

 

Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd is a state-owned enterprise, which operates as a commercial company but with only one shareholder, the New Zealand Government.

Solid Energy extracts, processes, markets and distributes more than 4 million tonnes of coal a year from its seven underground and opencast mines around Huntly in the Waikato, Greymouth, Westport and Reefton on the West Coast and Ohai in Southland. More than half of annual output is sold for export to major international customers who value the special low ash qualities of Solid Energy coals particularly in steel production as well as the manufacture of carbon fibre, activated carbon and silicon metal.

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In New Zealand Solid Energy supplies coal for New Zealand Steel Ltd's Glenbrook Mill near Auckland and is a major supplier to Huntly Power Station. The major industries of dairying, cement making, timber and meat processing use our coal as a flexible and competitive energy resource.

We estimate that our production over the next 20 years will total about 100 mt, requiring ongoing major investment in the development and expansion of new and existing mines.