The major coal company struck a deal with SSA Marine to export through the planned terminal, which Peabody expects to become a west coast hub for exporting its Powder River Basin coal through the Pacific Ocean.

“We're opening the door to a new era of US exports from the nation's largest and most productive coal region to the world's best market for coal,” Peabody Energy chairman and chief executive officer Gregory H Boyce said.

“Asian nations are leading the world in economic growth and industrial production. Exporting Powder River Basin coal delivers sustainable clean coal, creates US jobs and offers a unique way for America to benefit from major Asian economic growth.”

“Development of export capacity during the initial planned construction stage would create more than 8400 direct, indirect and induced jobs, and would generate nearly $900 million in economic benefits.”

The terminal could be at least four years away from completion, according to local reports.

SSA Marine is a subsidiary of private container terminal operator and cargo handling company Carrix.