Solid Energy is the largest coal mining company in New Zealand and is a state owned enterprise of the New Zealand Government.
The company was formed from the former government department State Coal Mines. It was then established as a state owned enterprise called Coal Corporation in 1987 (known as Coalcorp), and renamed Solid Energy New Zealand Limited in 1997. In 2010, it had a turnover of NZ$689.8 million and produced 3.8 million tonnes of coal.
The company mines extensively in New Zealand's Waikato and the West Coast regions. Approximately half the coal mined is exported, as it is high value with little moisture, sulphur, or other impurities. Much of this is to China, India and Japan where it is used in the power generation and coke industries and for the manufacture of steel and other metals. Major domestic users include the Huntly Power Station and New Zealand Steel at Glenbrook.
Read more about Solid Energy: Coal Operations, Retrenchment 2011 To 2013, Lignite Conversion Proposals, Renewable Energy Operations, Opposition Groups, See Also
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