Fonterra, one of the world’s largest dairy companies, has been approved to start work on its Mangatangi open-cut coal mine in New Zealand. Working through its subsidiary, Glencoal Energy, it received approvals to mine the 30 hectare site for the next eight years. It initially planned to mine at Mangatangi late last year, as it winds down operations at its existing Kopako 3 mine. David Wright, Fonterra’s national consents manager, said it chose to develop its own mine to ensure the cost of coal and security of supply. The 120,000 metric tons of coal mined will be used to power its milk drying plants at Waitoa, Te Awamutu and Hautapu.
