Aurizon secures Caledon expansion tonnages to WICET
Aurizon has secured a new, long term, performance-based contract with Caledon Coal for haulage of up to four million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of coal with a ramp-up profile from their Cook mine in Central Queensland to the new Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal (WICET).
The new-form contract will deliver a modern and flexible agreement for both Caledon and Aurizon and cements a long-term relationship between the two companies for the haulage of coal.
The 11-year contract is effective from May 2015, when WICET commences shipping for customers, and runs to June 2026. The contract was contestable and supersedes Aurizon's existing contract for 500,000 tonnes per annum.
"Aurizon is delighted to renew and extend its relationship with Caledon through to 2026," said Mauro Neves, Executive Vice President of Commercial & Marketing, Aurizon.
"With these significant expansion tonnages, Caledon is showing great confidence in the strong future of the Queensland coal sector. Aurizon is pleased to secure this contract and partner with Caledon in this growth."
The coal will be transported using existing Aurizon electric trains on the Blackwater system to the new Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal, at the port of Gladstone.
Caledon has invested a substantial amount of money to modernise the Cook Colliery to enable it to produce the four million tonnes required. Caledon's Cook Colliery is located approximately 30km south of the Blackwater township in Queensland. It is an underground operation that produces both coking and thermal coal (approximately 80:20 coking: thermal split).