Asciano (AIO) chief executive John Mullen has expressed a willingness to engage in discussions with coal miners over their rail contracts amid reports some of the the world's biggest resources companies are running their Australian mines at a loss because the fixed costs of rail contracts mean leaving the mine operational is more cost-effective than closing it, The Australian Financial Review reports.
According to the newspaper, Mr Mullen said the group had held "positive and fruitful discussions with a number of important customers" about take-or-pay contracts with miners.
