Lyttelton Port of Christchurch

Lyttelton Port of Christchurch, which is operated by Lyttelton Port Company, is both a general cargo port as well as being the largest coal export terminal in New Zealand. In the year to the end of June 2011 the company exported 2.1 million tonnes of coal.

Coal Exports
On its website Lyttelton Port Company states that it has been exporting coal since from its stockyard in Te Awaparahi Bay since 1976. "Up to 2.5 million tonnes of coal can pass through our coal stockyard each year." In September 2022 the Lyttelton Port Company entered into a 15 year coal handling agreement with Solid Energy.

The coal terminal caters for coal transported from West Coast mines including from Solid Energy's Stockton mine.

2010 earthquake derails plans for coal port expansion
In its 2010/2011 annual report the Lyttelton Port Company explained that the series of earthquakes had had a major impact on the port facilities. "At the Port, the wharves moved seawards, and the seawalls and landward ends slumped. Piles, beams and tiebacks fractured, and paved container-handling areas suffered extensive damage. At Cashin Quay, the container cranes were jolted off their rails, and berth pockets in-filled. The breakwater at the seaward end slumped. On Z Berth, which was severely impacted, the foundations of the Independent Fisheries coolstore were destroyed. At CityDepot, paving cracked and buildings were structurally damaged. As a result of the massive damage, we face a recovery programme of probably four to five years, or longer."

In late March 2012 the Lyttelton Port Company withdrew an application to expand its coal export terminal due to the need for repair work on existing facilities following the major 2011 earthquakes. In April 2010 the Lyttelton Port Company had applied to the Environment Court for 13 consent applications to reclaim 10 hectares of foreshore to enable it to expand its coal handling operations. The proposed expansion would have allowed exports of approximately 5 million tonnes per year. The Lyttelton Port Company stated that it was "looking at alternative ways within the existing port land to handle future growth". The port expansion had been opposed by the NZ Greens and environmental groups.

Despite the delay in the port expansion, Lyttelton Port Company is optimistic that coal volumes exported through the port will continue to expand. "We expect a continuation of this strong performance [a 5.2% increase in coal exports in 2011], with the signing in June 2011 of a cooperation agreement between Solid Energy and Bathurst Resources Ltd to export Bathurst’s Denniston coal through Lyttelton."

Contact details
Website: http://www.lpc.co.nz/Home.jasc

Related SourceWatch Resources

 * New Zealand and coal
 * New Zealand Mining Industry Association
 * Solid Energy