CONSOL Energy is one of the nation’s largest coal producers with more than 4.5 billion tons of proven and probable reserves. With 96 percent of its coal coming from underground, the company is also the largest producer of coal from underground mines. Only four percent of the company’s coal comes from surface mines.

Where geology is favorable and CONSOL Energy reserves are sufficient, the company utilizes longwall mining systems in its underground mines. Mines equipped with longwall technology are highly mechanized and provide increased production.  In 2007, about 88 percent of CONSOL Energy's production came from mines equipped with longwall mining systems.

An integral part of the longwall mining process is the continuous mining machines. These units are used to carve out the longwall panels by driving “entries” into the coal seam, providing access for miners and equipment, streams of air for ventilation purposes, the dimensions of longwall panels and escape routes.

At certain, CONSOL Energy and contract mines, traditional surface mining techniques using small stripping shovels, front-end loaders and dump trucks mine coal along ridge tops and transport it to preparation facilities. The company operates 18 active mining complexes throughout Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia. Coal produced at these locations is transported to customers by unit trains, river barges, trucks, conveyor belts or by a combination of these techniques.

For sales information, contact:

Michael McLean - Vice President - Human Resources
Phone: (724) 485-4000
E-mail: michaelmclean@consolenergy.com

For more information on our coal,  click here.