The present staffing level of 70 would adequately cover the start of coal mining operations at the end of August, which should produce up to 200,000 tonnes of coal by the end of next June, general manager of mines Peter Whittall said in a statement yesterday.
Listed Pike River has almost completed a 2.3km tunnel into the rugged Paparoa Ranges, 45km northeast of Reefton, to reach an estimated 17.6 million tonnes of hard coking specialist coal.
This would be exported to India and Japan - at a rate of up to one million tonnes per year - to be used in steel making.
Among the present 70 staff, 13 experienced miners, six trainees, eight tradesmen and three apprentices had recently been hired, with about one-third of jobs going to West Coasters, Mr Whittall said.
However, of 12 jobs recently advertised for electrical trades, only two applications had been received and the company would look to recruit from Australia and South Africa, he said.
Once fully operational by mid-2009, the mine would be the fifth-largest employer on the West Coast, with 150 staff, Mr Whittall said.
An extra 450 jobs in support services were expected to be created and the company was planning to spend $30 million annually on labour, transport, power and support services.
