The first shipment of coal from a new mine in McLean County in western Kentucky has been sent to utility companies in the state.
The Australian company ParingaResources announced on April 28 that it loaded 1,500 tons of washed coal from its new Poplar Grove mine onto barges at its dock on the Green River. This first shipment of coal went to Kentucky Utilities and Louisville Gas & Electric.
Paringa said in a news release that it plans to bring in additional mining equipment and ramp up operations.
The Australian company said coal from the mine, which is in the Illinois Coal Basin, is sold out for this year and 70 percent of the coal is committed to regional power companies in 2020.
The Poplar Grove Mine faced a legal challenge from brothers Gordon and Ken Bryant, whose family has owned land in that area for more than 100 years. The Bryants claimed the approval process was not in line with required procedures, and the coal mine landfill is located in an agricultural area and flood plain. The Bryants said toxic runoff from the project is a concern for local farmers.
