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<\/p>\n\n\nIn last issue\u2019s column, I talked about spring being a time of rebirth. As we\u2019ve long come to know of this industry, it is full of surprises \u2013 and this time around is no different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since the latter half of 2008, the coal mining sector has left some of us panicked, others shocked and yet even more dumbfounded. What had been a banner time for the commodity about 15 years ago seemed to be sliding into one of the worst dips in modern history. This was, of course, for a myriad of reasons of which we\u2019re already painfully aware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The more people I speak with in my networks across the operational, supply and analyst communities, the more it seems to carry great weight that coal is indeed returning to its position as one to watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Market numbers aside, the proof is in the actions of those in the know. Take the recent announcement from Alabama coal miner Warrior Coal. After years of longwall numbers dropping, it appears that trend may be reversing course \u2013 at least taking a starting step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Warrior said in early May that it is planning to relaunch development of its Blue Creek reserves in Alabama into a new longwall mine adjacent to its existing operations in Brookwood, south of Birmingham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why the change of heart? With the pandemic now largely behind us, and the better conditions for coal pricing, the decision was an easy one for the operator. Rectifying some labor issues, along with improvements in the company\u2019s cash position didn\u2019t hurt, either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Warrior said in its announcement it will invest $650 million to $700 million in the coming five years for the development of the reserves, including $45 million in restart expenses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Blue Creek development will be a single longwall mine with a projected capacity of 4.8 million tons annually of high-vol A met coal over the first 10 years of production. Nothing to scoff at when a quality met coal is the new star once again of the soft rock commodity show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Warrior added one other interesting tidbit: the asset is one of the country\u2019s last remaining large-scale, untapped premium high-vol A met coal reserves. Not something heard every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once fully developed, Blue Creek could increase Warrior\u2019s annual production capacity by 60% and expand its product portfolio to global customers by offering three premium hard coking coals \u2013 tonnage that could potentially get among the highest premium met coal prices in the seaborne market. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the risk of sounding clich\u00e9: if you\u2019re going to go, go big. Did I mention the operation has a mine life that could exceed five decades?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blue Creek is anticipated to commence initial development tonnage in 3Q24 and reach prime production levels by 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I like to call myself the eternal optimist. In this case, though, I think others just may join in my enthusiasm for what coal news we still have not yet heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A coal \u2018bubble\u2019? Not to me. Welcome back \u2013 we\u2019ve missed you.<\/p>\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n
Donna Schmidt<\/strong> In last issue\u2019s column, I talked about spring being a time of rebirth. As we\u2019ve long come to know of this industry, it is full of surprises \u2013 and this time around is no different. Since the latter half of 2008, the coal mining sector has left some of us panicked, others shocked and yet even more dumbfounded. What had…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":548,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[1150,504,1151,1149],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-2551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial","tag-blue-creek","tag-coal-mining","tag-met-coal-reserves","tag-warrior-coal"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
Editor, North American Mining magazine
dschmidt@semcopublishing.com
(740) 624-4642
Twitter: @Dschmidt_NAM<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"