Pike River increases staff

Wednesday, 09 July 2008

Pike River Coal says it has recruited more than 70 staff for the mine it is developing near Greymouth on the West Coast, with the workforce sufficient for the start of production.

Last week the company put back by a month to the end of August the date it expected to reach its target coal seam. Tunnelling was rescheduled to meet safety and construction requirements.

General manager mines Peter Whittall today said Pike River had taken on board six deputies, 13 experienced miners, six trainee miners and eight tradesmen since March.

Many were already on site with the remainder starting during the next month. Three local apprentices had also been employed, he said.

In some specialist areas recruitment from overseas was necessary, such as the electrical trades where the company advertised around the country for 12 positions, but had only two applications.

"At current staffing levels we are more than adequately prepared for the start of coal mining operations," Mr Whittall said.

Recruiting would continue to support the scheduled production ramp-up to 200,000 tonnes for the year to the end of next June.

The company said it would eventually employ 150 staff when full production started in mid-2009, with estimated downstream employment for at least another 450 locals providing support services.

That would make Pike River the fifth-largest employer on the West Coast. Within a year the company would be spending $30 million annually on labour, transport, power and support services sourced from the West Coast.

Pike River shares were down 6c to $2.04 in early trade today, having ranged between $2.50 and 77.4c in the past year.

 NZPA