A consent hearing is underway for a new open cast coal mine in north Waikato to power three of Fonterra's dairy plants in the region.
Glencoal Energy, which is owned by Fonterra, is seeking permission to establish a small mine at Mangatawhiri to replace an existing open cast mine nearby.
The company wants to extract 120,000 tonnes of coal a year for about five to seven years from the 30 hectare site which would have a coal seam between five and ten metres thick.
The coal would be used at the Hautapu, Te Awamutu and Waitoa dairy factories.
Fonterra says it is dependent on a reliable, secure supply of energy and it is cheaper to have its own coal mine.
It says where it uses coal, it is efficient and clean burning, and boiler exhausts are filtered.
Some 116 submissions have been made against the new mine.
