Longwall Production Remains Steady
Fewer longwalls produce more coal by steve fiscor, editor-in-chief Overall U.S. longwall...
US Coal Sector Realizes the New Norm
Exports will help offset further declines in western production by steve fiscor, editor-in-chief...
Yesterday’s Waste is Tomorrow’s Boon
New coal fines recovery solutions can help miners go green, save greenbacks and grow optionality...
2019 Haulage & Loading Preview
Organizers revamp program for open-pit mining conference by steve fiscor, editor Like most mining...
Blast Casting Optimization
Designs can be optimized to suit market and site specific needs by anthony konya, dr. calvin j....
World Coal Leaders Gather in Barcelona to Discuss Where the Market is Heading
While coal demand continues to decrease in Europe, North America, opportunities exist in Asia,...
Alabama Power Will Retire Plant Gorgas
After more than a century, Alabama Power announced it would be closing its Plant Gorgas in Walker County. The company cited costly, federally driven environmental mandates as the reason for the closure. “Government regulations...
Glencore Will Limit Coal Production
On Wednesday, the world’s largest exporter of thermal coal, Glencore announced it would be capping its yearly coal production in the future to combat climate change. Glencore said it will prioritize its capital investment to...
Merida Affiliate Submits Bid for Kemmerer Mine
Merida Natural Resources, a privately held company, announced its affiliate, Western Coal Acquisition Partners LLC has submitted a $215 million irrevocable bid to acquire the Kemmerer coal mine, located in Lincoln County,...
EPA Proposes Revisions to Advance Clean Energy Technology
In early December, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed revisions to the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for greenhouse gas emissions from new, modified, and reconstructed fossil fuel-fired power...
Owensboro Utilities Details Coal Delivery Plans for Elmer Smith
The city-owned electric utility in Owensboro, Kentucky, is starting to wind down its coal supply agreements in anticipation of the planned closing of its 425-megawatt Elmer Smith coal-burning generating station in less than two...
AEP Buys Coal, Burns 22M Tons of Coal Through 3Q
American Electric Power (AEP) began receiving spot steam coal in the fourth quarter of 2018 as a result of a swift turnaround of a November 1 formal solicitation to buy some spot this year and up to 1.25 million tons per year...
Why I Withdrew My Nomination to be Director of OSM
Over one and a half years ago I was approached about becoming Director of the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM). My official nomination was made in October 2017 and I was honored to have an opportunity...
India Establishes 44 New Coal Blocks in Eastern States
by ajoy k. das Kolkata December 4, 2018—The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has established 44 new coal blocks with estimated reserves of 25 billion tons across four eastern India states. Officials said that the coal blocks...
Partnership for Digital Twin Solution
Atos, supplier of digital transformation solutions, and Bentley Systems, supplier of comprehensive software solutions for infrastructure construction, announced a strategic partnership through which they will offer a complete...
New Website for Conveyor Solutions
Converge Engineering announced its new website, ConvergeBelting.com, which, the company reported, provides new and existing customers with a comprehensive resource for replacement conveyor belting and accessories. The site...
BKT Plans USA Plant
Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT) announced the construction of a sixth production site, to be located in the United States. The planned location for the site was undetermined at the time the company’s board of directors approved...
Railway Tie Changer Attachment
Kinshofer, a leading supplier of excavator attachments, has a new railway tie/sleeper attachments for efficient railway maintenance and repair. The three attachments — the RBS, RBS20 and RBS20HPX — can be used with 12- to 24-ton...
SpotSee Expands Asset-monitoring Product Line
SpotSee is an internet of things end-to-end solution provider that enables customers to spot damage in their operations and see it in real time. SpotSee has developed a low-cost, connected ecosystem that includes its own mobile...
High-power Modular Terminal Blocks
BlockMaster Electronics, a leading supplier of terminal blocks for electrical and electronic distribution, recently introduced a new line of rugged, high power modular terminal blocks in 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-pole configurations....
Looking Forward to 2019
With a combined Jan-Feb edition, it seems weird to say it in February, but Happy New Year! We have a lot of ground to cover. So, let’s begin with that Super Bowl. Unless you were a Pat’s fan, the game was a snoozer, but the...
Europe’s Let-Them-Eat-Cake Moment
The UN Climate Change Conference (COP24) was held during December in Katowice, Poland. This had to be a weird destination for a group that’s accustomed to the trappings of more chic urban settings and being surrounded by those...
Development of a Mine Rescue Support Vehicle
by larry d. patts, jeremy rohrbaugh and joseph schall The underground mining industry and its partners work tirelessly to improve mine safety and to develop controls that address the dangers inherent to working in the dynamic...
Using Performance Management Strategies to Improve Mine Emergency Training and Preparedness
by margaret e. ryan, jason diamond, michael j. brnich and cassandra hoebbel The MINER Act of 2006 called for significant improvements to emergency response training and preparedness at U.S. underground coal mines. Yet, results...
Exporting: An Important Revenue Stream for Energy Producers
by jim burrows Coal companies across the United States are benefiting from exporting. Selling overseas is a great way to grow a business and boost the bottom line. In fact, U.S. coal exports have increased by 61% in 2017, as...
Peabody Hands Out Awards for Clean Coal Technologies
On December 5, Peabody presented its Fifth Annual Peabody Global Clean Coal Leadership Awards, which highlights best-in-class clean coal technologies, at POWER-GEN International in Orlando, Florida. The company recognized...
VCEA Presents Excellence in Mining Awards
In November, 11 awards of excellence were presented to southwest Virginia coal companies during the Virginia Coal and Energy Alliance’s (VCEA) 47th annual Fall Meeting and “Excellence in Mining Awards,” at the Russell County...
The Next Chapter in Coal’s Convalescence
by luke popovich When you think of our industry today, imagine a spry, healthy senior — suddenly hit in a crosswalk by a drunk driver who runs a red light. The victim is now out of intensive care, regaining with the help of...
Life After Death
In my downtown Washington neighborhood, a sign above my friend’s parking space waxes philosophical about a chronic urban problem: Is there life after death? Park here and find out. At times over the last few years, many in the...
LiuGong Machinery
LiuGong Machinery promoted Kevin Thieneman to vice president. He will also continue in his role as executive chairman of LiuGong North America. Before joining LiuGong, he served as president of Caterpillar Forest Products....
Union Pacific
Union Pacific named Printz Bolin vice president, external relations. He succeeds Mike Rock, who plans to retire February 15, after 29 years of service. Bolin is currently assistant vice president of external relations....
Safety Law Predictions for 2019-2020
by henry chajet and robert horn Unless you’ve been off the grid — way off — or maybe off the planet, you know the political campaigns are over and the election results are final. If you are a Democrat, you might be pleased that...
Grading MSHAS’s Performance After 2 Years
by brian hendrix Almost two years into President Donald Trump’s first term, how would you grade the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA) performance? Is MSHA more effective or efficient? No doubt, our nation’s mines...
