Coal Operations
We are the largest coal producer in the Eastern U.S., with low-cost Tier 1 assets serving utility, industrial, and steelmaking customers both domestically and abroad.
From our seven underground mining complexes we produce a diverse range of thermal and metallurgical products with varying heat and sulfur contents, which enables us to satisfy the broad range of specifications required by our customers. Our operations are in the most attractive basins for domestic or export markets, and our products help ensure safe, reliable, affordable and secure power supply for millions of utility consumers.
Operational Highlights in 2023:
- Shipped 34.4 million tons of coal
- Approximately 80.9% of tons sold were purchased by domestic electric utilities, 15.7% were sold into international markets, and 3.4% were sold to domestic industrial customers
Our longstanding relationships and proven reliable delivery of critical base-load fuel translate into a well-contracted order book that provides strong cash flow visibility to support our capital allocation plans. We typically enter any given year with the majority of our expected coal sales for that year contracted and priced, both domestically and for export markets, while maintaining a small open position that can be flexed up or down, domestic or export, depending on where the best value lies. Our contracts can range from a single trainload or barge to several million tons and can be fixed price, linked to a particular index, or structured with a variety of cost adjustment mechanisms.
Mining Complexes
We currently operate seven mining complexes in two operating regions: Appalachia and Illinois Basin:
Appalachia
Annual Production:
7.7 million tons in 2023
Tunnel Ridge, LLC operates the Tunnel Ridge Mine, located near Wheeling, West Virginia. Tunnel Ridge utilizes the longwall mining technique to produce medium/high-sulfur coal. The Tunnel Ridge preparation plant has a throughput capacity of 2,000 tons of raw coal per hour.
Annual Production:
1.2 million tons in 2023
Excel Mining, LLC operates MC Mining, located near the city of Pikeville in Pike County, Kentucky. The underground operation utilizes continuous mining units employing room-and-pillar mining techniques to produce low-sulfur coal. The preparation plant has a throughput capacity of 1,000 tons of raw coal per hour.
Annual Production:
0.8 million tons in 2023
Mettiki Coal (WV), LLC operates the Mountain View Mine, located in Tucker County, West Virginia. The Mountain View mine utilizes the longwall mining technique to produce low/medium-sulfur coal. Mettiki is capable of producing coal for both the steam coal and metallurgical coal markets. The preparation plant has a throughput capacity of 1,350 tons of raw coal per hour.
Illinois Basin
Annual Production:
9.9 million tons in 2023
River View Coal, LLC operates the River View mine, which is an underground mine located near Morganfield in Union County, Kentucky. River View utilizes continuous mining units employing room-and-pillar mining techniques to produce medium/high-sulfur coal and is the largest mine of its type in the nation. River View’s preparation plant has a throughput capacity of 2,700 tons of raw coal per hour.
Annual Production:
5.6 million tons in 2023
Hamilton County Coal, LLC operates Mine #1, which is an underground mine located near the city of Dahlgren in Hamilton County, Illinois. Mine #1 utilizes longwall mining techniques to produce high-sulfur coal. The preparation plant at Hamilton County Coal has a throughput capacity of 2,000 tons of raw coal per hour.
Annual Production:
5.3 million tons in 2023
Gibson County Coal, LLC operates the Gibson South Mine, located near the city of Princeton in Gibson County, Indiana. Gibson South is an underground mine and utilizes continuous mining units employing room-and-pillar mining techniques to produce low/medium-sulfur coal. The Gibson South mine’s preparation plant has a throughput capacity of 1,800 tons of raw coal per hour.
Annual Production:
4.4 million tons in 2023
Warrior Coal, LLC operates the mine, located near Madisonville in Hopkins County, Kentucky. Warrior utilizes continuous mining units employing room-and-pillar mining techniques. Warrior’s preparation plant has a throughput capacity of 1,200 tons of raw coal per hour.
Operated By: Mt. Vernon Transfer Terminal, LLC
Status:
Active
Transportation Options:
Served by the EVWR and Truck
Mt. Vernon, Indiana, 47620
The Mt. Vernon Transfer Terminal leases land and operates a coal-loading terminal on the Ohio River at Mt. Vernon, Indiana. Coal is delivered to Mt. Vernon by both rail and truck. The terminal has a capacity of 8.0 million tons per year with existing ground storage of approximately 200,000 tons. In 2022, the terminal loaded approximately 1.9 million tons for customers of Gibson County Coal and Hamilton.