Western Coal announces fiscal Q2-2010 operations update and Q2-2010 earnings
release date

VANCOUVER , Nov. 2 /CNW/ - Western Coal Corp (TSX: WTN, WTN.WT and WTN.DB and AIM: WTN) ("Western" or "Company"), announces an update on operating results for the quarter ending September 30, 2009 (fiscal Q2-2010) and the expected release date of Q2-2010 financial results.

Fiscal Q2-2010 Operations Update

For the quarter ending September 30, 2009 , operating results from the Company's Canadian operations include:

    
    Shipments (000 metric tonnes)
    -  Hard coking coal                           370
    -  Low-vol PCI coal                           248
    Production (000 metric tonnes)
    -  Hard coking coal                           327
    -  Low-vol PCI                                166
    Average sales price realized
    -  US$ per metric tonne                       $111
    -  C$ per metric tonne                        $122
    Average cash costs, FOB (C$/tonne)*         $90
    

Operating results from its US operations from July 13 , 2009(xx) to September 30, 2009 includes:

    
    Shipments (000 short tons)
    -  Metallurgical coal                         95
    -  Thermal coal                               182
    Production (000 short tons)
    -  Metallurgical coal                         102
    -  Thermal coal                               202
    Average sales price realized
    -  US$ per short ton                          $88
    -  C$ per short ton                           $96
    Average cash costs per short ton (C$/ton)*  $70

    * not a measure recognized under Canadian GAAP and does not have a
        standardized meaning
    (xx) date of acquisition
    

During the quarter, the average waste stripping ratio (waste BCM per tonne of clean coal produced) at the Wolverine Operation was approximately 12.4:1 and continues to fall towards fiscal 2010 target levels of 11:1. The stripping ratio is a key indicator of cash costs of the operations.

The Company ended the quarter in excess of $115 million of net working capital, which includes approximately $95 million of cash on hand.

Fiscal Q2-2010 Earnings Release and Conference Call

Western expects to release fiscal Q2-2010 financial results before the TSX opens on November 13, 2009 and hold a conference call to discuss those results at 10:00am ( Vancouver ) November 13, 2009 . To participate in the call, please dial either 416-644-3415 or 1-877-974-0448. For replay access please dial either 416-640-1917 or 1-877-289-8525 and enter passcode 4180574 followed by the number sign.

The call will be webcast live and will be available at www.westerncoal.com

About Western

Western is a producer of high quality metallurgical and thermal coal from mines located in northeast British Columbia ( Canada ) and West Virginia (USA). The mines have the capacity to produce 7 million tonnes per year and have over 20 years of coal reserves. Western also owns a 50.6% interest Energybuild (EBG: AIM) which produces high quality anthracite and thermal coal in South Wales (UK). Other interests owned include a 45% interest in Xtract Energy (XTR: AIM), 20% interest in NEMI Northern Energy & Mining (NNE.A: TSX). The Company is headquartered in Vancouver , BC, Canada , and trades on the AIM and TSX stock exchanges under the symbol "WTN". More information can be found at www.westerncoal.com

For further information: David Jan, Director, Investor Relations, [phone], [email protected]