The Kentucky Department of Energy Development and Independence has released its Kentucky Quarterly Coal Report for Q2 showing a 2.4% increase in coal production compared to the first three months of the year – the second quarter in a row that the state’s coal mines have increased production.
Regionally, mines in eastern Kentucky increased production by 15.1%, 8% more than mines in the western regions of the state, where production fell by 8.6% on the temporary idling of a large coal mine in Union County. This mine has since resumed operation. Overall, eastern Kentucky mines produced 52% of the total coal mined in the state.
In terms of production methods, underground mining accounted for 67% of the coal mined, although the total amount of coal mined underground fell by 2.2% compared to the first quarter. Underground mining dominates in the western regions of the state, accounting for 86% of coal output.
Surface mining output rose by 13.2%, accounting for 33% of the states output. In eastern Kentucky, surface mine output rose 17.2% to 5.18 million short t – only a fraction behind the 5.20 million short t produced underground.
Coal industry employment in the state stabilised over the quarter with onsite positions dropping by 51 overall as 54 new mining positions were offset by a reduction in preparation and office staff. This is the smallest drop in employment levels in the industry since employment began to fall from its peak of 18 181 in Q3 2011.
Written by Jonathan Rowland