Coal

Rio Tinto is set to sell its Mount Pleasant thermal coal assets to MACH Energy Australia for US$224 million plus royalties.

The Coal Utilization Research Council appoints Shannon Angielski as its new Executive Director of the coalition.

According to the latest reports from the US EIA, US coal production finished 2015 off approximately 13% from 2014 totals. Meanwhile spot prices for coal continue their long-term decline and natural gas slipped back slightly from recent highs.

A round-up of some of this week's key news items from the international coal industry, from outlooks on the US government implementing a halt on coal leases to an innovative concept to deploy CCS in the Europe.

The US Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy criticises the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan in a new report that analyses the regulation’s subjectivity and fairness.

Rhino Resource Partners has completed a definitive agreement between Royal Energy Resources Inc. and Wexford Capital LP where Royal acquires common units of the partnership previously owned by Wexford.

Peabody Energy enters definitive agreement to sell it interest in Prairie State Energy Campus: a 1600 MW coal-fired plant and adjacent coal mine in Illinois, USA.

Former Peabody Energy Senior Vice President of Government Relations, Fred Palmer, has joined Washington DC-based public affairs firm, Total Spectrum/Steve Gordon and Associates.

Peabody's North Antelope Rochelle mine reaches a major production milestone by shipping its 2 billionth short ton of coal.

BHP Billiton has reported 3% falls in its metallurgical and thermal coal production as operations were hit by geological difficulties and heavy rain in Australia, while draught hit the company in Colombia.

Fortum’s 4Q15 net profit will be negatively impacted by over €1 million as a result of one-time impairments and provisions.

US Rep. Ed Whitfield, Chairman of the Energy and Power Subcommittee, criticises the US Department of Interior’s regulation on federal coal leasing and management.

Jay Hambro has been appointed to the board of the Gupta Group and Chief Investment Officer and CEO of Gupta-owned SIMEC Energy and Mining Divisions.

China invested US$110 billion in renewable generation in 2015 with more to come in 2016, leading for further falls in the country’s coal demand.

A report, Scottish CO2 Hub – A unique opportunity for the UK, published by Scottish Carbon Capture & Storage has detailed a concept that could lead the way for deployment of CCS in the UK and Europe.