LONDON, July 30 Reuters Glencore on Tuesday left its 2024 production guidance unchanged for most metals and lifted coal to reflect the acquisition of Teck39;s steelmaking coal unit, saying it will announce whether it will separate its coal assets at its halfyear financial results next week.

The miner and trader this month completed a deal to buy the majority of Teck39;s coal business.

We are now in the process of consulting with shareholders to assess their views regarding the potential demerger of our coal and carbon steel materials business, CEO Gary Nagle said in a release.

We expect to be able to announce the outcome of such engagement and the decision of the Board …next week.

Glencore is already a top producer of thermal coal, the most polluting fossil fuel, with an expected output of between 98 million and 106 million tons this year.

Its 2024 steelmaking coal production should increase to 1921 million tons postacquisition, from 79 million.

Reuters in March reported that a growing group of Glencore investors were keen for it to keep mining coal instead of spinning out the soontobe enlarged unit, with one eye on its financial outlook and another on the environmental benefits of keeping coal inhouse.

While a demerger could lead to a share price bump, critics say that spunoff assets are often shifted into private ownership and run for longer with less rigorous investor oversight, potentially leading to a worse climate outcome.

Glencore said it will…