Coal

Thermal coal prices to stabilise between US$50 and US$60 per tonne and weak demand limits upside potential, while cost pressures provide a price floor.

Seaborne metallurgical prices will remain subdued in the short term as demand from China weakens further.

In the build up to COP21, the World Coal Association appoints Milagros Miranda Rojas as the new Policy Director.

Benjamin Sporton, CEO of the WCA, emphasises the importance of cleaner coal technologies with particular focus on high-efficiency low-emission (HELE) coal technologies at Clean Coal Day Japan.

US coal production for the week ending 29 August rose for the fourth straight week, narrowing the gap to last year’s totals significantly in recent weeks, according to the latest report from the US Energy Information Agency.

A round-up of some of this week’s key news items from the international coal industry, from updates on projects to the latest technological developments.

Federal Minister for Industry and Science, the Hon Ian Macfarlane MP opens Whitehaven Coal’s surface coal mine at Maules Creek in Australia.

Dakota Westmoreland Corp. enters into an extension of its long-term coal supply agreement with Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. to supply coal from the Beulah mine to the R.M. Heskett power plant.

Neville Bergin completes agreement with Wardell Armstrong International to represent the engineering, environmental and mining consultancy in Australia.

According to a report from the US Energy Information Agency, US coal mining productivity increased in 2013, as a result of large mines improving productivity, developments in mining technology and closures of small mines.

Mechel, a leading Russian mining and metals companies, signs a three-year agreement for coal supplies with JFE Steel corp., an Asian steel mill.

The Indian School of Mines and Curtin University will launch the Australia-India Joint Research Centre for Coal and Energy Technology, which will work on technology development for energy with a focus on clean coal technologies.

The World Coal Association welcomes Dr Fatih Birol as the new Executive Director of the International Energy Agency.

The World Coal Association urges Bonn climate negotiators to take positive action to promote low-emission technologies.

A round-up of some of this week’s key news items from the international coal industry, from the latest sales and acquisitions to updates on coal production.