Annual Review and Forecast of Utah Coal Production and Distribution―2006

Book excerpt: Utah coal production in 2006 increased for the second straight year to 26.1 million short tons, 6.4% higher than 2005’s production total and 20% higher than the 10-year low experienced in 2004. This year’s increase was the result of renewed longwall mining at the Skyline mine and significant production increases at Aberdeen,West Ridge, and SUFCO. In addition, Utah achieved record production in the Book Cliffs coal field, record production in Carbon County, and record production on State lands. In fact, in 2007, coal production on State lands is expected to out-pace federal coal production for the first time in history. Despite this recent surge in production, many coal mine operators are experiencing increasingly difficult mining conditions, resulting in a higher ash product.