Coal production up at Wesfarmer's mines WESFARMERS says production at its coal mines rose sharply in the June quarter after recovering from the effects of wet weather over the summer. More than 2.8 million tonnes of coal was produced from its coal mines over the quarter, up 25.2 per cent from the previous quarter, Wesfarmers said in a production report on Wednesday. Metallurgical coal production increased by 28.9 per cent and steaming coal production was up by 17.5 per cent compared to the previous quarter. The Perth-based conglomerate owns two coal mines, Curragh, in Queensland's Bowen Basin and Bengalla in NSW's Hunter Valley. Wesfarmers said production at Curragh was diminished in the first quarter due to wet weather caused by Cyclone Oswald and a scheduled shutdown during the Christmas period. As a result, metallurgical coal production for the year increased was up just 2.3 per cent to 7.38 million tonnes.