Coal

Atrum Coal expects its encouraging yield results from quality testing at the Groundhog anthracite project to positively impact new pre-feasibility study.

Gobi Coal & Energy will be expanding its resources value chain into hard coking coal discovery, coking coal consolidation and graphite and uranium development.

Bowie Resources is going to idle its Bowie #2 coal mine near Paonia, Colorado, due to market deterioration.

A round-up of some of this week's key news items from the international coal industry, from recent coal plant updates to the latest corporate affairs.

According to a US EIA report, coal consumption in the electric power sector decreased 18% from 2008 to 2014 in the US yet coal shipments made either exclusively or partly by rail has remained near 70%.

Southern Company has taken leadership of the Carbon Capture International Test Center Network (ITCN).

New World Resources Plc has released its financial and operating results for 2015.

Caterpillar Inc. has reported that Doug Hoerr is to become Vice President with responsibility for the Material Handling & Underground Division.

Noble Group Ltd has warned it is expecting a net loss for 4Q15 of approximately US$1.2 billion for 4Q15 due to falling coal prices.

The Competition Tribunal has approved the takeover of Optimum Coal Holding Ltd’s Optimum coal mine and six other target firms by Tegeta Exploration and Resources.

Linc Energy and PT Sugico Graha sign agreements to develop commercial underground coal gasification projects in Indonesia.

Karen Peetz resigns from SunCoke Energy’s Board of Directors and the company make two new additions to the board.

BHP Billiton makes new operating model to increase efficiency and accelerate productivity.

Banpu Public Company Ltd has released its 5-year business plan entitled ‘Balanced Growth, World-Class Sustainability’.

Vale reports its coal production results for 4Q15 and 2015 are down compared to last year.