Blaschak Coal increases anthracite coal reserves

Blaschak Coal Corp. is increasing its coal reserves by expanding its mining activities in two new locations in the anthracite coal measures of Northeastern Pennsylvania – the Mt Carmel area of Columbia County and in the Eastern coal measures near Hazleton, which could add almost 3 million t of clean coal. It will subsequently have five active mine locations containing high quality reserves.

The company completed a long-term lease to mine a significant reserve in the Mt. Carmel area of Columbia County, Pennsylvania. The company will relocate a Marion 7450 Dragline to this location, as well as acquire a fleet of equipment to move into full operation on this site by the end of 2015.

The second location is in the Eastern coal measures near Hazleton, Pennsylvania. Blaschak is currently mining in this location with a Manitowic 4600 Dragline. First coal production from this site occurred in August of 2015.

The company will have additional capacity to produce ROM coal at favourable mine ratios and operating costs and critical flexibility to optimise production for quality assurance and cost of production.

"The expanded mining operations reflect our strategic belief in the value of anthracite in existing and emerging market applications," commented Greg Driscoll, President and CEO of Blaschak Coal Corp. "We're excited to increase our mining capacity, extending the environmental benefits afforded by our re-mining and reclamation, and providing confirmation of our belief that Pennsylvania anthracite has favourable environmental impacts when used in place of alternatives in domestic steelmaking."

The expansion coincides with the release of a study prepared by Dr Harold Schobert of Schobert International LLC, which compared the carbon footprints of using traditional metallurgical coal relative to using Pennsylvania-produced anthracite as a fuel and reducing agent in US domestic steelmaking"We're proud to produce only the cleanest burning coal," said Driscoll. "With the addition of these reserves in the new mining locations, we can quickly and efficiently provide clean, Pennsylvania anthracite for customers around the world."

Edited from press release by Harleigh Hobbs

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/18092015/blaschak-coal-increases-anthracite-coal-reserves-2878/