COAL COMPANIES INVEST IN MORE LONGWALL CAPACITY/Leading American Longwall Operators report Record Production

摘要

While problems during 2005 kept a few longwall operations from realizing their full potential, several installations reported record performances. With most of the longwalls back online or returning to full production soon, this year is shaping up to be one of the best for America's most productive underground mines. Demographically, not much has changed in the last year. The overall population stands at 47 mines operating 53 longwalls. Five mines, including Drummond's Shoal Creek; American Coal's Galatia; and CONSOL Energy's Bailey, Enlow Fork, and McElroy, mine coal from two longwall panels simultaneously. CONSOL Energy remains the leading U.S. longwall operator with 13 installations, followed by Arch Coal (5), Robert E. Murray (5), and Massey Energy (4). West Virginia remains the leading longwall state with 14 faces, followed by Pennsylvania (8), Alabama (7), Utah (7), and Colorado (5).