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6 Jan 2010 07:00
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6thΒ January 2010
UK COALΒ PLC
("UKΒ COAL" or "the Company")
Director of MiningΒ -Β BoardΒ Appointment.Β
Up-Date on 2009 Production and Q1 2010 Face Changes.
Appointment of Director of Mining
The Board of UK COALΒ PLCΒ is pleased to announce the appointment of Gareth Williams to the position of Mining Director on the Board of UK COAL. It is expected that Gareth will join the Company and take his seat on the Board during February 2010.
Aged 43, Gareth has over 20 years experience in coal mining in a wide range of international roles with Anglo Coal, part of Anglo AmericanΒ plc. Having been General Manager of some of Anglo's largestΒ coalΒ mines, he is currently Head of Operational Performance for Anglo CoalΒ CanadaΒ andΒ South America. Born inΒ England, Gareth was raised and educated inΒ New Zealand, gaining an honoursΒ degree in Mining Engineering at theΒ UniversityΒ ofΒ Otago/AucklandΒ in 1988. Married withΒ fourΒ children, GarethΒ is based inΒ theΒ UK.
David Jones, Chairman ofΒ UKΒ COAL, said:Β "We are delighted to welcome Gareth. He has extensive coal mining experience and knowledge and an impressive track record in mine management, driving productivity with a strong safety culture. All of this equips him ideally to his new role with UK COAL and made him our clear choice in what was a strong list of candidates in our selection process."
There are no further details requiring disclosure under Listing Rule 9.6.13 in relation to the appointment of Gareth Williams to the Board of UKΒ COAL.Β
Full Year ProductionΒ
For the full year, 2009, UK COAL expects to report Deep Mines production of around 5.7 million tonnes, in line with the lowerΒ end of the Company's production up-date ofΒ 17 November, 2009, and Surface Mines production of 1.4 million tonnes.Β
Face Change Up-date
At Daw Mill,Β powered roof supportΒ installationΒ will beΒ commencing shortlyΒ on the next faceΒ in preparation forΒ production. It is expected this equipment installation will resolve theΒ impact ofΒ current difficult geological conditions, although these conditions mean production on thisΒ new face is now expected to commence around the end of February this year, rather than in January.Β
Mitigating actionΒ is beingΒ taken, including operating cost reductions and the extraction ofΒ additional tonnage off the existing production face in the first several weeks of the New Year, to reduce the impact of the Daw Mill face gap on working capital.
At Kellingley, the new Beeston Seam is expected to be ready to take over directly from the current production face from around late February, with the specific date depending on completion ofΒ theΒ extraction of the final tonnes on the current face.
At Thoresby, the Deep Soft project remains on schedule for commencement of production in MarchΒ in this new seam,Β following record-breaking development drivage in 2009.Β
Pre-Close Announcement
UK COAL will make its pre-close announcementΒ towards the end of January, 2010.
Enquiries:
Media:
Citigate Dewe Rogerson Tel: 020 7638 9571
Anthony Carlisle Mobile: 07973 611 888
Analysts and investors:
UK COALΒ PLC Tel: 01302 751751
Jon Lloyd, Chief Executive
David Brocksom, Finance Director
Citigate Dewe Rogerson Tel: 020 7638 9571
Nick Cox-Johnson
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