30 Sep 2014
CONSOL Energy’s Buchanan Mine Achieves 100 Million Ton Milestone
Canonsburg, PA (September 30, 2014) – CONSOL Energy’s Buchanan Mine in Buchanan County, Va., achieved a milestone in mid-August, marking the mining of the 100 millionth ton of coal since the mine began development in 1983.
The achievement comes during the company’s 150th anniversary year and one year after the mine marked its 30th anniversary of development in Buchanan County. Initial development and production at Buchanan by continuous miner began in 1983, with the first longwall panel cut coming four years later in 1987. On August 19, 2014, the 100 millionth ton of coal was mined on the evening shift.
“This is a significant milestone for the Buchanan Mine and its employees,” said CONSOL Energy Vice President of Central Appalachia Operations Brett Holbrook. “It is an achievement that speaks to the quality of the mine and the resource we mine from it here in Buchanan County and to the workforce whose efforts have made it possible.”
Buchanan Mine Superintendent Danny Atwell agreed.
“It is through their dedication to safety, compliance and continuous improvement -- three core values we hold here at CONSOL -- that we were able to achieve this milestone,” Atwell said. “That dedication is seen here every day and is a key to why we are successful in doing what we do.”
When CONSOL began its operations 150 years ago, Abraham Lincoln occupied the White House. It was first incorporated April 19, 1864 when several western Maryland coal operators decided to consolidate their holdings to form Consolidation Coal Company. Through the years, CONSOL has reinvented itself into a diversified energy company focused on the responsible development of natural gas and coal across the Appalachian Basin. In Virginia, that includes the company’s Buchanan Mine in Buchanan County and its Virginia Gas Operations which are found in Buchanan, Russell and Tazewell counties.
In Buchanan County, CONSOL Energy was listed in 2013 as the second largest employer in the county, behind only the Buchanan County School System. It is the largest coal producer in the county with 4.7 million tons produced in 2013 and it is also the largest gas producer in the county and in the state of Virginia with 80.65 billion cubic feet of gas produced in 2013.
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CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE: CNX) is a Pittsburgh-based producer of natural gas and coal. The company is one of the largest independent natural gas exploration, development and production companies, with operations centered in the major shale formations of the Appalachian basin. CONSOL Energy deploys an organic growth strategy focused on rapidly developing its resource base of 5.7 trillion cubic feet of proved natural gas reserves, while the company’s premium coal assets are sold to electricity generators and steelmakers both domestically and internationally. CONSOL Energy is a member of the Standard & Poor's 500 Equity Index and the Fortune 500. Additional information may be found at www.consolenergy.com.
Contact: Cathy St. Clair, at (276) 498-8239