About Pike River

Ribbon cutting
The Hon. Gerry Brownlee, Minister for Economic Development,
Energy and Resources, cutting ribbon at mine opening

Pike River Coal Limited is New Zealand's only listed coal mining company, becoming an NZX Top 50 company in July 2008. Pike River is owned by more than 8,000 shareholders and is in the business of mining and exporting premium hard coking coal.

Hard coking coal is the most valuable type of coal and is used by steel mills and coking plants to make coke, an essential ingredient in the steel making process.

Pike River is mining the Brunner seam under the Paparoa Ranges on the West Coast of the South Island, 50 miles north-east of Greymouth. At least 18 million tonnes of the 58 million tonne resource is expected to be recovered over a mine life of at least 18 years.

In a mark of support from the National-led Government for Pike River's economic development initiative, the mine was formally opened in November 2008 by its third highest ranking Cabinet Minister, Hon Gerry Brownlee.

Download the Pike River fact sheet (1.7mb)