US Longwall Operators Ramp Up Production

摘要

For the last year or two, the coal business as a whole has been mired in an environment characterized by weak demand and soft prices. Most of the news emanating from the sector has been dire, with layoffs and mine closings. However, one particular area of coal production, longwall mining, is per forming rather well in general. This year, one longwall face was added to Coal Age's U.S. Longwall Census and two longwall faces were removed. White Oak Resources started a new longwall system in Illinois. Alpha Natural Resources is only operating one longwall face at the Emerald mine in Pennsylvania instead of two.