A Closer Look

摘要

In 1992, MDU Resources' Knife River Corp. (KRC) began diversifying its coal mining business by buying its first construction materials company. With the purchase of Oregon-based Morse Bros. In 1998, KRC's pace of diversification into aggregate, ready-mixed concrete and asphalt production significantly quickened (see chart). As rapid growth of its construction materials holdings continues, KRC recently completed the sale of its remaining coal properties.KRC has construction materials operations in Minnesota, California, Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Following the September acquisition of Oregon-based Metro Rock & Construction, KRC reported that it had more that 1.1 billion tons of "strategically located, economically recoverable reserves." Aggregate production from all of its operations is expected to exceed 25 million tons in 2001.