MARKETS

Buchanan back on track

CONSOL Energy’s Buchanan mine commenced production Tuesday after being idled in September due to skip hoist problems.

Donna Schmidt
Buchanan back on track

The hoist, which failed when it didn’t unload at the surface and then fell, has now been repaired with initial equipment installation successfully completed Monday.

The company originally slated the Virginia operation’s reopening for November. However, crews discovered the lower portion of the shaft had suffered more damage than originally thought, requiring the lower shaft and skip hoisting mechanism be replaced rather than repaired.

Pennsylvania-based Consol Energy is the largest high-Btu coal producer in the US. The Buchanan mine produces about 400,000 tons of low-volume metallurgical coal monthly.

About 200 mine employees were laid off while the repair work was conducted, and the company invoked the force majeure provision in its sales contracts while the mine was idle. No injuries were reported in the incident.

TOPICS:

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Automation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations using autonomous solutions in every region and sector, including analysis of the factors driving investment decisions

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2023 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of current exploration rates, trending exploration technologies, a ranking of top drill intercepts and a catalogue of 2022 Initial Resource Estimates and recent discovery successes.