Although the Tygart No. 1 project had received all the necessary federal and state approvals, challenges brought forth by a local anti-mining organization ultimately led to the project's suspension in 2008. The challenges were overruled by the West Virginia Surface Mine board in March.
"We had planned to resume construction in mid-2011, but the strong market demand for Tygart No.1's metallurgical coal product, and growing evidence of improving thermal coal pricing, led us to accelerate the project," said Ben Hatfield, ICG's CEO and President. "The construction and development timeline anticipates initial coal production in late 2011 and longwall startup in early 2014."
At full output, the Tygart No. 1 mine is expected to produce 3.5 million tons per year of premium high-volatile metallurgical and high-quality thermal coal.
ICG is a producer of coal in Northern and Central Appalachia and the Illinois Basin. The Company has 13 active mining complexes, of which 12 are located in Northern and Central Appalachia and one in Central Illinois.