Virginia-based Massey, who acquired Great Western through the company’s bankruptcy proceedings, now possesses an additional 14 million tons of high quality, low sulphur industrial and utility coal reserves and related capital assets, including an active surface mine and rail loading facility. Production levels of the surface operation are estimated to be about 200,000-300,000 tons per annum.
“This acquisition allows us to expand our reach into a portion of Central Appalachia where we currently don’t have a strong presence,” said Massey chairman Don Blankenship.
According to the company’s, it plans to continue production at the surface mine and will review potential options for expansion into the future. Massey currently owns mining operations in West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia and is the fourth largest US coal company in terms of revenue from produced coal.
