The COVID-19 pandemic set back plans for many of us across the globe, so it’s exciting to hear about projects getting back on track. CONSOL Energy Inc. recently did just that, announcing the recommencement of its Itmann Metallurgical Coal Project and progress on construction of an onsite coal preparation facility aimed to begin operation in 2022. The preparation plant will provide expanded capacity for processing coal from third parties as well as from CONSOL’s Itmann #5 Mine.
The Itmann project was announced in early 2019 to develop a metallurgical coal mining operation in Wyoming County, West Virginia. At its full run rate, the Itmann Mine will produce more than 900 thousand tons per year of low-vol coking coal, and the mine is slated to run for over 20 years. In addition, the activities now underway will essentially allow CONSOL to double the capacity of the preparation plant in comparison with the initial project plan. More metallurgical coal will supply additional domestic and international steel production, which is essential to our modern way of life.