Overall production was also down, according to a recently released report by the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations obtained by International Longwall News, to 4.9Mt during the same period from 5.1Mt in the first calendar quarter.

 

At the top end of the table were Pittsburg and Midway, with the North River No. 1 operation marked most productive at just under 854,000t.

 

While the agency said Drummond Coal's Shoal Creek gained 318,000t during the period, the trio of Jim Walter Resources operations near Birmingham were the most notable of the slipped figures - down 29% to a total production of 1.1Mt. Drummond's results more than doubled production in the quarter prior.

 

The remaining Alabama companies' results for the quarter were: Warrior Investment (Corinth), 22,711t; Oak Grove Resources (Oak Grove), 309,949t; and Shelby Mining (Coke No. 1), 25,580t.

 

ADIR also noted an increase in underground staffing during the quarter that included the US summer season; employment in the state jumped 18% to 2053 workers. Five counties made up the total: Fayette (418); Jefferson (835); Shelby (74); Tuscaloosa (1158); and Walker (36).

 

Tonnage to date across the state, including both underground and surface complexes, was 14.7Mt.