Coal

US 2012 coal exports, supported by rising thermal coal exports, are expected to break their previous record level of almost 113 million short t, set in 1981.

Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd has released its quarterly report for Q3 2012, with details about coal production, sales into the international and domestic market, resources and the company’s corporate restructuring.

BHP Billiton, the Anglo-Australian mining giant, has announced “robust” operating results for the third quarter, with strong performances at its Queensland Coal operations and thermal coal production “higher than all comparable periods” across the BHP Billiton Energy Coal portfolio.

Xstrata has announced its third quarter results, with coal production up compared the same quarter last year. Lower prices have hit coal earnings, however, leading the company to initiate a planned restructuring of its Australian business to bring down costs.

Brazilian mining giant, Vale, has announced its third quarter results. Coal production was down on the second quarter due to a slower pace of ramp-up at the company’s Moatize mine in Mozambique. Australian production increased on second quarter as geological conditions improved.

Despite continued market volatility, Rio Tinto said it performed “strongly” in the third quarter with record quarterly Pilbara iron ore production and increased thermal coal production compared to the same period last year. “Our business is resilient and our operations are performing strongly”, said CEO Tom Albanese.

Global Data ask the question, is Myanmar an emerging natural resources powerhouse?

China dominates the global coal industry with coal production expected to reach 4.5 billion t by 2020 and consumption expected to reach 5.2 billion t. Ankita Sinha, GBI Research, UK, outlines why China continues to lead the global coal mining market and what lies ahead for this coal giant.

Barry Baxter reports on fears that South African mine violence will spread.

Arch Coal has earned a place in the top 250 of the 2012 InformationWeek 500, which marks the most innovative users of business technology in the US. It is the seventh consecutive year that the coal miner has been recognised.

BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance will close the Gregory opencast coal mine as low coal prices continue to hurt the industry.

The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity has released analysis that shows 204 coal-fired generating units are scheduled for shutdown due, in part, to regulations issued by the EPA.

US coal miner, Patriot Coal, which filed for bankruptcy in July, has announced further temporary reductions to coal production across three West Virginian coal mines.

Gordon Cope asks whether US coal can recover from the twin threats of slowing demand and rising gas use.

A new report from Pricewaterhouse Coopers has highlighted the economic and social benefits of the Canadian coal industry – benefits that were revealed to be greater than expected.