Port of Blyth client Banks Mining has completed its first ever export order for coal produced by its Northumberland operations via the Port’s Battleship Wharf terminal.
Four thousand tonnes of coal produced at Banks’ Shotton surface mine near Cramlington has been loaded into a vessel at the port and transported to an industrial customer in Spain.
The Durham-headquartered firm, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is now pursuing other opportunities to supply overseas customers both within and outside mainland Europe. Having worked in South East Northumberland for more than three decades, the company employs around 200 people across the Shotton and nearby Brenkley Lane mining sites.
Logistical challenge overcome
Michael Storey, sales and quality manager at Banks Mining, says: “The coal we produce in Northumberland is of a very high and consistent quality, capable of meeting the demands of overseas markets. Having investigated which export markets we might target with it, we believe there are considerable overseas opportunities for us to work towards alongside our domestic operations.
“Fulfilling an export order presents different logistical challenges to our usual operations, but our highly-skilled and professional team completed the task in their usual safe, responsible and efficient manner.”
Martin Lawlor, chief executive at the Port of Blyth, said: “We’re delighted to support our client Banks Group with this landmark export project. The variety of cargoes travelling both in and out of the Port of Blyth is growing all the time and we look forward to handling further exports for the Banks Group in the future.”
