Coal boost for struggling Ohura

Coalmining is poised for a major comeback in Taranaki and King Country - and struggling Ohura may be the big winner.

The owners of the Mokau coalfield to the northwest of Ohura, and the now-closed Tatu mine to the south of the town, intend mining again.

They plan to use Ohura as the centre for loading coal on to rail wagons for transport to other parts of the North Island. New load-out facilities will have to be built and some new jobs created.

Development of the Mokau and Tatu fields has become viable because coal is increasingly being seen as a cost-effective energy source in the wake of rundown of the Maui gas field.

The Mokau field is one of the biggest in the North Island, extending from near the Mokau River almost to Ohura, and contains at least five coal seams up to 3m thick.

- NZPA