Metropolitan uses underground longwall mining techniques to extract the coal which is then transfered by conveyor to the major surface facilities area. The coal is transported by train to the Port Kembla Coal Terminal for shipping to domestic and overseas customers.

Coal extracted from the underground mining operations is transferred by conveyor to the ROM coal stockpile at the surface facilities. ROM coal is reclaimed, crushed, screened and washed at the CHPP. The CHPP uses screens, crushers, dense medium cyclones, spirals, flotation cells, bed separators and drum and belt filters to process the coal and separate out coal reject material.