Newcastle coal-loader's work begins
NEWCASTLE Coal Infrastructure Group's $1 billion coal loader on[DS] Kooragang Island is a step closer to commercial operation after receiving its first trainload of coal.
The 74 wagons of coal arrived yesterday morning from the Wilpinjong mine near Gulgong, about 275 kilometres away by rail.
While the coal has a market value of about $750,000, it is not destined for sale.
As NSW Ports and Waterways Minister Paul McLeay observed yesterday, the "sacrificial coal" will be used to form the base of the terminal's coal stockpiles.
NCIG was unwilling to give firm dates on a commercial start-up project but The Herald was told the company hopes to load at least one test vessel of coal next month and to have regular shipments running by the middle of the year.
