Mining officially began July 19, just four short months after initial construction started on the complex’s facilities and only two months after the commencement of initial development mining.

The operation, the reserves of which have been controlled by Massey since 1998, will mine from the Upper Powellton seam, complex president Chris Blanchard told International Longwall News recently, using room and pillar mining throughout.

“[We] expect full pillar extraction in selected areas,” he noted.

As mining at Allen Powellton gets into full gear, management has determined workforce logistics to be much like other Massey-held operations: a staff of 40 will call the mine home and will work two production shifts and one maintenance shift daily.

Some existing fleet machinery will be utilised at the new operation, and some units will be purchased new, according to Blanchard. Included in the mine’s own line are two Joy 14CM15 miners, three Joy 21SC shuttle cars, two Fletcher RRII bolters, three Fairchild 35-C scoops, and a Stamler feeder breaker.

Looking forward, Massey anticipates 2008 tonnage from Allen Powellton to be “in the 350,000 range” of high-quality, high-vol metallurgical coal. With so many opportunities to be had at the complex, Blanchard notes that seam interactions will initially be its most significant challenge.