Media Release

Mining contract agreed for Rotowaro Opencast Mine

Mining and engineering services contractor, Henry Walker Eltin, has signed a new agreement with coal producer, Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd, to continue mining operations at Rotowaro Opencast Mine near Huntly in the Waikato.
The seven and a half year contract involves the mining of overburden, the mining, washing and blending of coal and environmental management and rehabilitation. Henry Walker has operated the Rotowaro Opencast Mine since 1998, providing employment for around 110 people.

Coal from Rotowaro Opencast Mine is supplied to North Island industrial and domestic markets customers, primarily Bluescope New Zealand Steel Ltd and Genesis Power Limited for Huntly Power Station. Huntly is New Zealand's largest power station and the only one which uses both coal and gas to generate electricity. Coal is also railed directly to Bluescope New Zealand Steel's mill at Glenbrook south of Auckland where the plant has been specially designed to produce steel from West Coast ironsands and Huntly coal.

For further information contact: Vicki Blyth Tel: 03 353 0100 Communications Director Fax: 03 353 0116 Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd Mobile: 021 670 250