The Coal Truth: My visit to a coal mine - Commissioner Upendra J. Chivukula

As an electrical engineering student, I have always wondered about the mining engineering discipline and its potential contributions to the world economy. I also have been curious about the operations of a coal mine and its many impacts on our everyday lives. I have read and heard a lot about the difficulties miners and their families go through, especially with black lung disease. Coal has received an awful lot of negative attention in recent years. It’s dirty and burns 1.7 times more carbon than natural gas, it destroys mountains, kills miners, and has cost billions in taxpayer subsidies. Coal-based jobs have been in decline for years due to automation and environmental concerns.

I was thrilled when I got the opportunity to visit a coal mine -- the Leer mine, in the Tygart Valley, in northern West Virginia. My colleagues, friends, and family were wondering whether I was out of mind visiting a coal mine in these times when coal is not associated with a lot of good. Jokingly, I used to say, I was going to meet the Coal Miner’s Daughter—Loretta Lynch—a great country music singer. Deep in my heart, I was hoping to see what technological changes were brought to the mining industry, not only to bring about efficiencies, but also to enhance the quality of life of the miners. I also wanted to see potential opportunities for the mining families in the 21st century.

During the long drive to West Virginia, I was not sure what to expect in the mountain state. Several thoughts were running through my mind -- for example, I thought I will be covered with black dust, my clothes will become dark with soot, I might get sick breathing methane gas, and I might slip in the dark mine. None of that happened. When we reached the Leer mine, we were received by the welcoming miners.

I learned about the longwall mining process. There are two main types of coal: ‘thermal’ coal used for power generation and ‘metallurgical’ coal used for steel production. Thermal coal is more abundant, has lower carbon content and is higher in moisture than metallurgical coal. Metallurgical coal produces less CO2 than thermal coals used to produce heat and energy.

I also learned that the Leer mine is a world-class supplier of metallurgical coal and a major supplier to the automobile manufacturers in several European countries. The $400-million investment by ArchCoal and 400-person workforce drive the mine to produce a high-quality, high-volatile ‘A’ coking coal product that would attract significant interest in world metallurgical markets.

The visit to Leer Mining Complex, a metallurgical coal mine, was an educational experience in just how far the industry has come in terms of technology and automation, as well as safety standards for everyone working as a miner. The Leer mine is one of six metallurgical and pulverized coal injection-grade mines in Appalachia, including four in West Virginia. There are significant undeveloped metallurgical coal reserves in the region that Arch could use to support additional mine development in the years ahead.

We, as a nation, cannot forget the import role coal played in our industrial revolution, especially for steel and energy production. We often overlook the emotions coming from the mining families and the need to facilitate the production of steel. As we will be driving cars and utilizing steel pole supported buildings for a very long time, it is important that we recognize necessities instead of narrowly focusing on negative aspects.