Active U.S. Coal-Mining Projects Fall 39% Since 2011

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The value of active coal mining projects in the U.S. has declined 39% since 2011, as coal has lost market share to natural gas and renewables as fuel for power generation. In 2011, Industrial Info was tracking more than $12.3 billion in active coal-mining projects in the U.S. Today, that number has dropped to 69 active projects totaling $7.5 billion.

Since 2011, Industrial Info has identified 87 projects totaling $9.3 billion that have been placed on hold. An additional 36 projects totaling $2.5 billion have been cancelled outright.

During the same period, the industry completed 85 projects totaling $3.7 billion. For example, Arch Coal Incorporated (NYSE:ACI) (St. Louis, Missouri) recently began operations at the $400 million Leer Metallurgical Coal Mine and preparation plant in Grafton, West Virginia. Construction began in 2010. Industrial Info first reported the project in 2005, when it was in the scoping study phase.

Currently, there are 103 coal-mining projects under development in North America. These projects represent $17.2 billion in total investment value. Canada accounts for the majority of the value of projects under development, with 34 projects totaling $9.7 billion.

The single largest project is in British Columbia. Glencore Xstrata plc is developing the $1.8 billion Sukunka coal mine, which envisions two or three open pit mines, as well as an underground mine to produce up to 6.7 million tons per year of metallurgical coal. The large capital outlay is a deterrent to development in today's market.

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Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, three offices in North America and nine international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.