On May 7, 2010, Virginia, US-based metallurgical coal producer Massey Energy Company announced expansions in Pike County, Kentucky and Buchanan County, Virginia.
According to a company statement, the metallurgical quality coal operations in question contain approximately 750,000 mt of coal and are expected to employ approximately 110 workers.
Roundbottom surface mine in Pike County, Kentucky began operation in May 2010. The metallurgical quality coal operation consists of approximately 160,000 surface mt and 300,000 highwall miner mt and is expected to be mined over the next 1.5 years. The operation is expected to employ approximately 60 workers.
Hurricane Branch Trace Fork mine in Buchanan County, Virginia is expected to begin operation in July 2010. This metallurgical quality coal operation consists of approximately 115,000 surface mt and 180,000 highwall miner mt and is expected to be mined over the following 12 months. The operation is expected to employ approximately 50 workers.
These surface and highwall miner operations are projected to produce approximately 300,000 mt of metallurgical quality coal through the remainder of 2010.