Metals Creek Resources starts drilling at Dona Lake

Foreign mineworkers return to South African mines

No current risk of closures – Brazil mining association

Sharp increases in EU emissions trading system (ETS) allowance values in recent sessions have worsened market conditions for German coal-fired power generation for next year, with around 46pc of the fleet priced out of the base-load market.

UK-Australian resources firm BHP and its partner, Japanese trading house Mitsubishi, plan to spend $100mn on 34 autonomous trucks at their 4.5mn t/yr Daunia coking coal mine in the Bowen basin in Queensland, Australia.

India's state-controlled mining firm Coal India (CIL) has formed a joint venture with NLC India, a state-controlled lignite producer and utility, to set up thermal and solar power assets with a combined capacity of 5GW in the country.

Most agreed that the increased production is a concern and could lead to an oversupply on the market and lower prices.

US coking coal prices have been flat to slightly stronger early this week ahead of current third-quarter spot requirements in Europe closing.