Anglo dismisses sacking rumour
JUST a day after Anglo American flagged cuts to production, rumours emerged that up to 80 had been sacked from within its stable of four Central Queensland mines.
The company has dismissed the rumours, pointing instead to its call for "voluntary separations" at its Moranbah North underground mine.
Anglo announced earlier this month it would shut down one of its two coal tunnels on the site in 2013.
At the time, workers were told of the potential impacts of the downgrade.
They have been asked if they would like to remain with the company or seek work elsewhere.
A spokeswoman for Anglo said workers had been given a number of options but these were yet to be finalised.
The company did not respond to questions about when the process would be resolved.
The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union did not respond to questions before deadline.
Anglo American chief executive Seamus French told the Wall Street Journal this week there was an "oversupply" to the market as high prices last year sent miners rushing coal to the port.
"In a period of oversupply it is a natural adjustment for producers to start to trim back," Mr French said.
He said each operation - which also include Capcoal, Dawson and Foxleigh in Queensland - would be reviewed on a "case by case basis".
However, the company still planned to triple its coking coal production by 2020, ruling out the cancelling of any new projects.
"You can't completely throw overboard long-term plans," he said.
