Richmond, Virginia, US-based coal producer Massey Energy Company has announced that it has begun the development of a new metallurgical coal mine within its Rowland reserve in Raleigh County, West Virginia.
The Rowland reserve consists of 56 million mt of mostly low and medium-volatile metallurgical coal and is located adjacent to Massey's existing Marfork operation, according to the company's press release. The new mine is the first among several that are planned to be combined in a new mining group on the Rowland reserve.
Massey acquired most of the Rowland reserve in 1998 and added to it with several small acquisitions in 2008. Initial development of the property and construction of the mine is expected to be completed in time for the 2011 export season. With $100-$160 million investment in mining and in facilities, Massey estimates that the new resource group will eventually produce as much as two million mt of metallurgical coal annually and employ over 500 miners.