State-owned Solid Energy says it has lost at least $30m after operations at its underground Spring Creek mine were suspended five months ago due to safety concerns.

On the eve of a preliminary hearing into the Pike River disaster, Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn has warned the collapsed mine's receivers to get in and get the dead miners' remains, or stand aside so someone else can.

Overseas institutions will be keen on any partial float of the state owned power companies, says AMP Capital.

The Govt's case for selling down some asset stakes sits on a three-legged stool. On examination it is not particularly sturdy.

Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn is calling for Pike River to be made into an opencast coal mine, amid efforts to keep the 114 skilled miners made redundant today on the West Coast.

State-owned coal miner Solid Energy's plans to turn low-grade Southland lignite coal deposits into massive new industries make no sense and the coal should remain in the ground, says the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.

Treasury is sitting on advice to the government about options for selling state assets, and is just waiting to be asked to produce it.

Another explosion shortly before 2pm today damaged some of the infrastructure at Pike River mine, but a "gagging" operation is still on track to commence tomorrow.

A Westport man has told how he and three others ran for their lives when the Pike River Coal mine exploded at 2.37pm on Wednesday.