A discussion of developments in longwall mining with representatives from longwall OEMs, Joy Global and Eickhoff, and ground control specialists, Jennmar.
Mining
Coal production from US mines with mountaintop removal has decreased 62% since 2008, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
A joint solution from RCT and Hexagon Mining is helping a Chilean mine overcome the challenges of operating in the Andes.
Powder River Basin coal mining company, Cloud Peak Energy, has appointed Robert Skaggs to its Board of Directors.
Weir Minerals will acquire Delta Industrial Valves for US$47 million, expanding the division’s presence in the mining market through increasing its portfolio of valve products.
Peabody Energy has entered into an agreement with Sekitan Resources to sell its Wilkie Creek mine and associated assets in Queenland’s Surat Basin.
Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. has reached an agreement to acquire all of the remaining White Oak equity interests, including operating control of the White Oak Mine No. 1.
Challenging old king coal
Electricity generated from natural gas surpassed that generated from coal for the first time in US history in April.
Weakness in demand and competition from natural gas remain the story in the US coal industry with prices continuing their downward spiral.
Not to be missed …
A significant sector of the US coal industry prefers life cycle management contracts for their equipment.
Mongolia plans to increase economic growth by selling stakes in state-owned enterprises, including the largest coal mine in Mongolia.
Murray Energy announces two lawsuits against the Obama EPA for illegal and unconstitutional rule expanding jurisdiction over waters and dry land in the USA.
The US Supreme Court’s decision to rule the US Environmental Protection Agency’s refusal to consider costs of power plants when regulating plants as unreasonable has been met with praise.
Due to the long lead time for environmental compliance projects, many US utilities have moved ahead with MATS compliance despite uncertainly surrounding the legality of the rule.