Paringa Resources intercepts Western Kentucky Number 9 coal seam

Intercepting the coal seam enables the company to progress to the next phase of mining activities, including bottom development. Bottom development involves the linking of the slope with both the intake and exhaust air shafts to establish the mine’s permanent ventilation system, as well as the construction of critical underground infrastructure such as the bottom sump, slope belt tailpiece and tramp iron magnet.

Production of coal from bottom development will be utilised to commission the coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP) and to produce clean coal for sales to customers.

The CHPP is ready to receive first coal, with final exterior cladding and roofing to be completed shortly. All other materials handling infrastructure at the mine site is operational, enabling the transfer of run of mine material from the mine site to the CHPP. The Ainsworth dock on the Green River is also structurally complete and will be ready to receive the first coal processed by the CHPP.

Paringa has recently completed the last of seven job fairs (interview and hiring events) interviewing over 400 qualified applicants. Additionally, mining equipment is currently being received in anticipation for the transition from contract mining to owner-operated production in January.

Market update

Several factors are creating significant upward pressure on Illinois Coal Basin (ILB) coal prices, with evidence that local utilities are rapidly moving to secure 2019 and 2020 coal supply, and incentivising higher pricing and longer-term contracts than have been seen in the region for some time.

Strong market fundaments continue to prevail in the ILB, particularly regarding the price of natural gas, the main competing fuel source for power generation.

Working gas stocks in underground storage are currently significantly below the minimum 5 year range. In November, natural gas prices surged as much as 50% as cold weather in the US raised concerns about supply shortages given the lack of available inventory, with Henry Hub pricing reaching a high of US$4.93/ million BTU.

Additionally, high international coal pricing has led to a shift in coal sales from domestic consumption to export, from less than 18 million t of net exports from the US in 2016 to potentially 55 million t in 2018. 

With less coal available domestically in the US, coal stockpiles have continued to fall. US Energy Information Administration data released for September 2018 saw a draw of 3.5 million t in power generation coal stockpiles, the largest draw in 28 years.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/mining/20122018/paringa-resources-intercepts-western-kentucky-number-9-coal-seam/