Mr Freyberg was visiting the Hunter Valley as the guest speaker at the Hunter Business Chamber ‘mining’ lunch in Newcastle today.

Telling a room packed with mine industry representatives keen to know what was happening at  Glencore, after the company endured a  week from stock market hell, Mr Freyberg said his company was robust and would continue to play a strong role in the Hunter.

This was good news for his audience as Glencore employs nearly 4000 people in its Hunter Valley operations.

Last week the company had a roller-coaster ride on international stock markets first seeing its share price plummet before enjoying a quick recovery.

His audience also appreciated hearing his opinion that there is a future for coal and coal would continue to be chosen as the base load primary energy provider for decades to come.

But he spoke of his concern about the rise of militant anti-mining and anti-coal campaigns which he said ignored the global energy reality where coal use would continue to increase.

Mr Freyberg has worked in the mining industry for 35 years and for both Anglo America and Rio Tinto before joining Glencore in 2000.

He has worked throughout the world and in his current position is in charge of 30 coal mines in Australia, South Africa and Columbia employing 27,000 people.

This is a cyclical industry he said adding Glencore has successfully been navigating commodity cycles for more than 40 years.

Mr Freyberg said the greatest challenge for mining companies now was the pricing environment.

“Since January 2011, coking coal prices have fallen nearly 75 per cent and thermal coal prices have dropped by 60 per cent,” he said.

“We continue to review our operations in the current market environment. In February, Glencore decided to cut 2015 Australian coal exports by 15million tonnes. We continue to review our operations in the current market environment.”

What has put Glencore in a strong position according to Mr Freyberg was the proactive steps taken in 2012 to reposition its business and continuing moves by the company to reduce their debt levels.

Commenting on the vexed local issue of gaining mine approval for both new, or existing mines Mr Freyberg said mining companies do not have an automatic right to build, extend or expand operations.

“Glencore believes that high operational standards should be set,” he said.

“The successful approval of our life of mine extension at Bulga is an example of our approach to project development and community engagement.

“We planned, listened and worked cooperatively with the community and responded to concerns raised. As a result we made major changes to our initial mine plans.”