As steel demand rises, Virginia coal mining is on the upswing
Virginia is seeing an uptick in coal mining as demand for steel surges amid global economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and federal plans for sweeping infrastructure investment.
Since Aug. 10, the Virginia Department of Energy has received applications for 10 new licenses to sell coal and one request to reactivate an existing license. Seven new permits to mine coal are also under review, with 11 additional permits in the process of being transferred to new owners.
Among the mines that have been restarted are the JMAC surface mine near Appalachia, now owned by Next Endeavor Ventures; JW Construction’s Hickory Gap Surface Mine; and the Osaka underground mine owned by INMET Mining.
“Long story short, we are seeing more coal mining and planned coal mining based on the records in our office,” wrote department spokesperson Tarah Kesterson in an email.
Read more: https://www.virginiamercury.com/2021/11/12/as-steel-demand-rises-virginia-coal-mining-is-on-the-upswing/