American Resources adds CMs at Kentucky mine

US coal miner American Resources, as part of its restructuring of the Perry County Resources (PCR) underground complex in Kentucky, has added two continuous miners (CMs) to its fleet to prepare for production.
American Resources adds CMs at Kentucky mine American Resources adds CMs at Kentucky mine American Resources adds CMs at Kentucky mine American Resources adds CMs at Kentucky mine American Resources adds CMs at Kentucky mine

American Resources has several operations in the Appalachian region of the US

The pulverised coal injection (PCI) mine in Hazard County now has six CMs to put to work when mining begins again, up from one that came with its purchase of the operation in September 2019.

American Resources did not indicate the units' makes or models, nor if they were new or pre-owned machines.

PCR's design is to use five CMs to run two supersections and one bridge section so that it can efficiently scale production. Later, it will add additional miner units for greater redundancy.

Restart of the mine is anticipated within the coming 30 days, and ramping up over the following 12 months. American Resources' goal is for it to be one of the lowest cost and most innovative PCI and stoker operations in the US.

"Since acquiring it out of bankruptcy, we have invested a significant amount of time and resources into the complex to return it back into an efficient and productive operation, said chairman and chief executive Mark Jensen.

"We feel we are in a really good position to ramp up the complex very efficiently and look forward to doing so in the near future," he added.

American Resources expects to ramp up the PCR complex to over 1 million tonnes annually for the PCI, semi-soft metallurgical carbon and specialty stoker markets.