By BROWN, Giles The West Coast is set to experience a latter-day gold rush as coal prices soar and mining increases, believes Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn. However, the Green Party warns the boom may come at a price for the environment and New Zealand's reputation abroad.

By WEIR, James PIKE River Coal is expecting good prices of more than US$300 a tonne for its export coal, with India desperate for coal and China becoming a net importer for the first time this year.

Pike River Coal expects to crank up to 150 staff by June next year when it plans to be in full production. The West Coast underground coal mine in the Paparoa range 46km north of Greymouth posted a loss of $1.14 million yesterday for the year to June 2008.

A $5 million continuous coal-mining machine has arrived in Nelson by ship from Australia. It will be delivered to the Pike River mine site on the West Coast next week. A second machine is due in October. The mine is expected to produce 200,000 tonnes of coal by next June. (c) 2008 Nelson Mail, The.

By STEEMAN, MartA Pike River Coal (PRC) expects to crank up to 150 staff by June next year when it plans to be in full production. The West Coast underground coal mine in the Paparoa range, 46km north of Greymouth, posted a loss of $1.14 million yesterday for the year to June 2008.