New Mexico Coal
- Ownership: 100 per cent
- Products: Thermal coal
- Location: New Mexico, USA
BHP Billiton's coal mines in New Mexico supply two coal fired power plants which deliver electricity to approximately 900,000 families and businesses in Arizona, New Mexico and the south west region of the USA.
The mines are located on or near the Navajo Indian Reservation. Some 65 per cent of the workforce is Native American and the business funds a number of college scholarships for the indigenous community.
New Mexico Coal employs 1,009 people.
Operations
San Juan
San Juan consists of an underground mine accessed via the high wall of the now closed open cut mine. Coal is supplied to the San Juan Generating Station. The underground mine is a single longwall operation. Reclamation of the closed surface mines will continue for three years. San Juan Mine is located 25 kilometres west of Farmington. San Juan employs 576 people.
Navajo
Navajo is an open cut mine utilising two draglines located on the Navajo Indian Reservation. It supplies coal to the Four Corners Power Plant. Navajo mine is located 30 kilometres south west of Farmington. Navajo employs 433 people.
History
In 1963 surface mining began at Navajo Mine to supply the Four Corners Power Plant. Mining at San Juan began in 1973 to supply the San Juan Generating Station and, from 1986, the La Plata mine also supplied coal to the San Juan Generating Station.
New Mexico Coal was originally an asset of Utah International. Utah was acquired by GE in 1977 and then by BHP in 1984. It became part of BHP Billiton with the merger of BHP and Billiton in 2001.
