MAHANOY CITY, Pa., Sept. 16, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blaschak Coal Corp − a company engaged in the mining, processing and distribution of anthracite coal in Pennsylvania, and one of the country's top anthracite producers – announced today that it is expanding mining activities into two new locations in the anthracite coal measures of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The addition of the two new locations means increased coal reserves for the company, additional capacity to produce run of mine coal at favorable mine ratios and operating costs, and critical flexibility to optimize production for quality assurance and cost of production.
Blaschak has executed a long-term lease to mine a significant reserve in the Mt. Carmel area of Columbia County, PA. The company will relocate a Marion 7450 Dragline to this location, as well as acquire a fleet of equipment to move into full operation on this site by the end of 2015. The second location is in the Eastern coal measures near Hazleton, PA. Blaschak is currently mining in this location with a Manitowic 4600 Dragline. First coal production from this site occurred in August of 2015.
The additional capacity will permit the company flexibility in operations, giving Blaschak five active mine locations containing high quality reserves. The reserve additions are expected to add as much as three million tons of clean coal.
The expansion coincides with release of a study suggesting that the carbon footprint of anthracite is smaller than that of traditional metallurgical coke.
"The expanded mining operations reflect our strategic belief in the value of anthracite in existing and emerging market applications," said Greg Driscoll, president and CEO of Blaschak Coal Corp. "We're excited to increase our mining capacity, extending the environmental benefits afforded by our re-mining and reclamation, and providing confirmation of our belief that Pennsylvania anthracite has favorable environmental impacts when used in place of alternatives in domestic steelmaking."
The study, prepared by Dr. Harold Schobert of Schobert International LLC, compared the carbon footprints of using traditional metallurgical coke relative to using Pennsylvania-produced anthracite as a fuel and reducing agent in U. S. domestic steelmaking operations.
The study confirmed that the use of Pennsylvania anthracite over metallurgical coke significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions, thereby minimizing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. In fact, replacing coke with anthracite in a single Electric Arc Furnace can reduce carbon dioxide by as much as 95,000 tons – the equivalent carbon footprint of 2,000 households, or 11,000 motor vehicles.
"We're proud to produce only the cleanest burning coal," said Driscoll. "With the addition of these reserves in the new mining locations, we can quickly and efficiently provide clean, Pennsylvania anthracite for customers around the world."
About Blaschak Coal Corp.
Blaschak Coal Corp. (www.blaschakcoal.com) is a miner, preparer and marketer of Pennsylvania anthracite. Blaschak is a market leader and one of the few fully integrated U.S. anthracite companies with a large reserve base, multiple mines and preparation plants, a bagging plant, both rail and truck loading facilities, and extensive marketing operations serving a wide range of end markets, including home heating, steel and water filtration.
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