Wellington, June 6 NZPA - Shares in coal miner Pike River Coal Ltd were placed on a trading halt ahead of an announcement expected by the end of the day.

The trading halt will remain in place until the announcement is made, NZX said.

Pike River's mine near Greymouth on the West Coast is yet to start production, with the owners expecting to hit the coal seam in July followed by full production a year later.

Shares in Pike River, 31-percent owned by New Zealand Oil and Gas, were up 5c at $1.98.

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