West Virginia-based Massey Energy Company announced Thursday that construction has begun on its new Pineville Processing Plant which is part of its Marianna property located in Wyoming County, West Virginia.
As part of the Company's efforts to continue developing high quality reserves that will increase metallurgical coal production, the Company has begun construction of a 700 tons per hour processing plant featuring two 10,000 ton clean coal silos and a 25,000 ton raw coal stockpile area. The estimated cost is $65 million and is included in 2010 and 2011 CAPEX guidance.
The plant is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2011 and will initially process high quality, low-vol metallurgical coal from the Company's Guyandotte operation and currently being developed Sewell seam. In 2012, the plant will also process coal from two underground miner sections operating in a 45 million ton reserve base that is contiguous to Guyandotte.
"The addition of our new Pineville Processing plant will enhance our position as a leading supplier of high quality met coal," said Don L. Blankenship, Chairman and CEO. "With the global met market expected to remain strong, this new investment will help us meet customer needs and is part of our previously announced metallurgical coal expansion initiative."