Weekly coal news highlights: 28 September – 2 October 2015

A round-up of news for the week 28 September – 2 October 2015

Coal production

• US coal production has increased by 438 000 short t for the week ending 19 September however due to current prices, it is difficult to produce coal economically.
• Anthracite sales and ROM production have jumped in 3Q15 for Atlantic Coal, as demand for the speciality coal remains strong going into the peak winter demand period.
• Bowie Resource Partners will scale back production at Bowie #2 mine near Paonia, Colorado, as a result of idling longwall mining due to developing a new longwall panel.

Sales and acquisitions

• South African coal company, IchorCoal, has launched its bid for Australian mining company, Universal Coal.
• FreightCar America completes the sale of its railcar repair and maintenance services business to Appalachian Railcar Services, for US$20 million.
• Rio Tinto sells its 40% interest in the Bengalla coal Joint Venture in Australia to New Hope Corp. for US$606 million.
• NewLead Holdings has not completed the purchase of the Marrowbone coal mine as expected.
• Bedeschi S.P.A of Padua, Italy, acquires a leading provider of turnkey bulk material handling systems, the Bulk Group of Dearborn Mid-West Conveyor Co.
• US utility, AEP, has agreed to sell its AEP River Operations inland barge company to American Commercial Liners.
• David Brown has bought out its Indian joint venture partner, Bharat Forge.

Business restructuring and closing facilities

• Following reviewing its operations, Glencore intends to cut a potential 380 jobs at its Optimum Coal subsidiary in South Africa.
• Joy Global is to close its heavy fabrication and welding department at its Milwakee facility on low demand for mining equipment.
• The largest coal mining company in northeast China is to cut 100 000 jobs as the industry continues to struggle against low prices.
• Swedish engineering company, Sandvik Group, has said it will divest its Mining Systems business.

Water pollution

• The US EPA has finalised federal rules on reducing the discharge of toxic pollutants from steam electric power plants, including coal-fired power plants.
• Duke Energy agrees to pay a US$7 million settlement to resolve former, current and future groundwater issues at all 14 North Carolina coal facilities.

Energy targets

• Energy access targets should include high efficiency low emissions coal-fired technologies, as well as carbon capture and storage, in order to support urbanisation and industrialisation in development countries.
• The US Environmental Protection Agency approves the updates to New Mexico’s Clean Air Plan.
• BHP Billiton sees thermal coal use dropping substantially if a global climate change agreement is reached in Paris, limiting temperature rise to 2°C.

Not to be missed …

• Mike Sherman, RMI, UK, looks at how new sensor technology can be used to improve mine efficiency and safety.
• Lyn Bates, Ajax Equipment Ltd, UK, explains how companies can improve the discharge of coal from hoppers and bins.

Written by Harleigh Hobbs

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/02102015/weekly-coal-news-highlights-28-september-2-october-2015-2954/