June 30 (Reuters) - Australian miner South32 Ltd S32.AX said on Friday it had suspended operations at its Appin coal mine following an order by a government regulator due to concerns over high gas levels in the mine.
The company said it withdrew staff from the mine on June 28 "as a precautionary measure," in a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange.
It later found gas levels to be within safe limits and notified the relevant regulator, the New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment.
"The Regulator then issued a prohibition notice and expressed broader concern regarding the recent gas exceedance events and the operating practices of the Illawarra Metallurgical Coal operation," the statement said.
South32 previously suspended operations at the mine in May, owing to elevated gas concentrations and said that the stoppage then would immediately hit sales because of low inventory levels. Department of Planning and Environment was not immediately available for comment.