Whitehaven Coal has reported productivity gains in a strong quarter at its newly acquired Blackwater and Daunia operations in Queensland.

Queensland coal sales were up 13 per cent quarter on quarter at 3.6Mt while stocks were up 48 per cent, the company said.

‘Reshaping the Queensland operations for success continued during the September quarter with the general managers at Blackwater and at Daunia both commencing in the quarter, completing the recruitment of the senior leadership team for Queensland,’ Whitehaven said in a quarterly update.

A second explosives contractor was brought onsite at Blackwater in the September quarter to help rebuild blasted stocks.

Related: Nippon Steel, JFE Steel buy into Blackwater in $1.6bn deal

And the first of two new 800-tonne excavators being brought in to rebuild pre-strip inventories at that site was commissioned in the September quarter.

At Daunia, Whitehaven said improvements in equipment productivity and coal processing were delivered.

This, along with improved rail path volumes for Daunia on the Goonyella line, underpinned that site’s solid September quarter results, the company said.

“I am pleased to report a solid start to FY25, with another strong quarter of production from our new Queensland operations, and our New South Wales operations delivering in line with plan,” Whitehaven managing director and chief executive officer Paul Flynn said.

“In Queensland, we are seeing productivity gains and cost improvements. We remain focused on reshaping the business for long-term success.”

Whitehaven completed its acquisition of BMA’s Daunia and Blackwater metallurgical coal mines in early April.

Meanwhile it is continuing to work on the feasibility studies for the $1 billion Winchester South project, 30km south-east of Moranbah.