Item 2. Properties
Item 2. Properties
Summary Overview of Mining Operations
Information concerning our mining properties in this Annual Report has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K, which requires us to disclose our mineral resources, in addition to our mineral reserves, as of the end of our most recently completed fiscal year both in the aggregate and for each of our individually material mining properties.
As used in this Annual Report, the terms “mineral resource,” “measured mineral resource,” “indicated mineral resource,” “inferred mineral resource,” “mineral reserve,” “proven mineral reserve” and “probable mineral reserve” are defined and used in accordance with subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K. Under subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K, mineral resources may not be classified as “mineral reserves” unless the determination has been made by a qualified person that the indicated and measured mineral resources can be the basis of an economically viable project. You are specifically cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral resources will ever be converted into mineral reserves, as defined by the SEC. See “Item 1A “Risk Factors”
You are cautioned that, except for that portion of mineral resources classified as mineral reserves, mineral resources do not have demonstrated economic value. Inferred mineral resources are estimates based on limited geological evidence and sampling and have a too high of a degree of uncertainty as to their existence to apply relevant technical and economic factors likely to influence the prospects of economic extraction in a manner useful for evaluation of economic viability. Estimates of inferred mineral resources may not be converted to a mineral reserve. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. A significant amount of exploration must be completed in order to determine whether an inferred mineral resource may be upgraded to a higher category. Therefore, you are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists, that it can be the basis of an economically viable project, or that it will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Likewise, you are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of measured or indicated mineral resources will ever be converted to mineral reserves. See “Item 1A “Risk Factors”
The information that follows relating to the Elk Creek Complex, Berwind Complex, and Knox Creek Complex is derived, for the most part, from, and in some instances is an extract from, the technical report summaries (“TRS”) relating to such properties prepared in compliance with the Item 601(b)(96) and subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K. Portions of the following information are based on assumptions, qualifications and procedures that are not fully described herein. Reference should be made to the full text of the TRS’s, incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Annual Report.
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The following map shows the location of our mining properties and offices, excluding our property near Sheridan, Wyoming, as of December 31, 2022:
At December 31, 2022, we had four mining properties, as summarized in the table below (tons produced in 000s), excluding the Brook Mine property being used to support the Company’s CORE initiatives:
Clean Tons
Clean Tons
Clean Tons
Controlled
Produced
Produced
Produced
Processing Facilities -
Location
Acres
Yrs
Stage
2020
2021
2022
Mine Type
Quality
Transportation
Elk Creek Complex
Logan, Wyoming, and Mingo Counties, WV
20,200
20+
Production
1,548
1,981
2,033
Underground, Highwall, Surface
High Volatile A, A/B, B
Elk Creek Preparation Plant - CSX RR, Truck
Berwind Complex
McDowell County, WV, Buchanan and Tazewell Counties, VA
62,500
20+
Production
147
180
416
Underground, Highwall, Surface
Low and Mid Volatile
Berwind Preparation Plant - Truck, Norfolk Southern RR
Knox Creek Complex
McDowell County, WV, Buchanan, Russell, and Tazewell Counties, VA
74,400
15
Production
—
45
235
Underground, Highwall, Surface
Mid and High Volatile A
Knox Creek Preparation Plant - Truck, Norfolk Southern RR
RAM Mine
Washington County, PA
1,567
10
Development
—
—
—
Underground
High Volatile C
Truck, Barge
Total
158,667
1,695
2,206
2,684
At December 31, 2022, we owned or controlled, primarily through long-term leases, approximately 157,100 acres of coal in Virginia and West Virginia and 1,567 acres of coal in Pennsylvania. The aggregate annual production for our properties during the three most recently completed fiscal years are as follows: 2.7 million tons for fiscal year 2022, 2.2 million tons for fiscal year 2021, and 1.7 million tons for fiscal year 2020. Our preparation plants and loadout facilities
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are located on properties owned by us or held under leases which expire at varying dates over the next 30 years. Most of the leases contain options to renew. Many of these leases provide for a royalty payment to the lessor based on a specific price per ton of coal extracted or as a percentage of coal sales revenue. We believe that all of our leases were entered into at market terms.
The Company leases office space in Lexington, Kentucky that serves as its executive headquarters. In addition, the Company owns office space in Charleston, West Virginia that serves as an operations center. The Company also owns offices in Sheridan, Wyoming as part of its CORE initiatives. See Item 1. “Business - Our Projects” for additional information about our mining operations and CORE initiatives.
We hold numerous environmental and mineral extraction permits, water rights and other permits, licenses and approvals from governmental authorities authorizing operations at each of our facilities. With respect to each facility at which we produce coal, permits, licenses and approvals are obtained as needed in the normal course of business based on our mine plans and federal, state, and local regulatory provisions regarding mine permitting and licensing. Based on our historical permitting experience, we expect to be able to continue to obtain necessary mining permits and approvals to support historical rates of production.
We are the operators of the mining and processing operations and the mining methods we use consist of surface, underground and highwall mining methods. The mining operations for the Elk Creek, Berwind, and Knox Creek complexes are material to our business and are further described below.
Elk Creek Complex
The Elk Creek Complex is located approximately 45 miles south of Charleston, West Virginia, in Logan, Wyoming, and Mingo Counties at N 37.698718, W 81.778297. The nearest town is Man, West Virginia, which is approximately five miles to the northwest of the Elk Creek Complex. The Elk Creek Complex is within the Southern West Virginia coal field of the Central Appalachia Coal Producing Region (the “CAPP Region”) of the United States.
Companies that previously mined on the Elk Creek Complex include Island Creek Coal Company (“Island Creek”) which started mining in the area in December 1904. Consolidation Coal Company, now known as Consol Energy, Inc. (“Consol”), bought Island Creek in July 1993 and continued operations in and around the area until the late-1990s when Consol idled its Elk Creek Mine. Ramaco Coal bought the property from Consol in 2012 and started production on the Elk Creek Complex in the fourth quarter of 2016. The 2012 purchase included acquisition of rail access, permitted impoundment and coal refuse disposal facilities, as well as numerous reclaimed, but permitted deep mines. Pittston Coal Company operated mines on the northern Huff Creek portion (McDonald and Baisden properties) of the Elk Creek Complex in the 1970s and 1980s before the company exited the coal mining business in 2001.
The Elk Creek Complex consists of approximately 20,200 acres of leased coal holdings. Within the Elk Creek Complex controlled coal holdings, 16,000 acres lie in Logan County, 2,800 acres in Wyoming County and 1,400 acres in Mingo County. The Elk Creek Complex is in the production stage and currently has six active mines, three planned and permitted mines, one permitted inactive mine, and one planned but not permitted mine. The five planned and/or permitted mines include two contour surface mine developing areas for a highwall miner, and three underground room and pillar mines, which use continuous miners for mine development. Ramaco began production of metallurgical coal at the complex in 2016. A majority of the underground mines implement retreat mining, which results in mining recovery of greater than 80 percent. Contour mining has an average mining recovery of approximately 90 percent, and the highwall mines have and average mining recovery of approximately 40 percent.
The Elk Creek Complex is mining several seams and seam splits, including the Chilton A, Upper Dorothy, Upper Dorothy 2, 3, and 4, Middle Dorothy, Lower Dorothy, Upper Cedar Grove, Lower Cedar Grove A, Lower Cedar Grove B, Lower Cedar Grove C, Upper Alma, Lower Alma, Powellton, Eagle, and No. 2 Gas seams, in descending stratigraphic order.
Currently, there are six active mines within the complex:
● Ram No. 1 Surface and Highwall Mine;
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● Stonecoal No. 2 Alma Deep Mine;
● Rockhouse Eagle Deep Mine;
● No. 2 Gas Deep Mine;
● Michael Powellton Deep Mine; and
● Crucible Lower Cedar Grove B and C seams.
There are three planned and permitted mines within the complex:
● Ram No. 3 Surface and Highwall Mine, scheduled for 2023 startup;
● Ram No. 2 Surface and Highwall Mine (which is the extension of Ram No. 1 above), scheduled for 2023 startup; and
● Glenalum Tunnel #1 Deep Mine, scheduled for 2027 startup.
There is one permitted inactive mine, the Eight-Kay Deep Mine that is projected to start in 2027 and the Bens Creek Deep Mine is planned but is not yet permitted. The projected startup date for this mine is 2026. It is likely future mines will be planned and scheduled, as necessary, from resource areas within the complex, to meet internal Ramaco production goals aligned with market conditions.
The current Elk Creek Complex Life-of-Mine (“LOM”) Plan projects mining through 2040; an expected mine life for the complex of 18 years. The Company projects total annual mine production to range from 2.1 to 2.3 million clean tons in 2023.
All Run-of-Mine (“ROM”) coal is washed at the Elk Creek Preparation Plant. The Elk Creek Preparation Plant, built in 2017 by Raw Resources Group located in Princeton, West Virginia, is a well designed and constructed preparation plant, with ROM processing capacity of 700 tons per hour. During 2022, we began work on a throughput upgrade at our Elk Creek Preparation plant. We expect this upgrade will raise the nameplate processing capacity to 1,150 raw tons per hour and our annual processing capacity from this complex to approximately 3.0 million tons per year. We expect that this upgrade will be completed in the second quarter of 2023.
In order to meet this increased capacity, we also began development work on additional low-cost, high- volatile underground and surface mines at Elk Creek. These mines began production during the second quarter of 2022 and are expected to reach full levels of productivity during 2023. Production is expected to increase at Elk Creek commensurate with the increase in processing capacity discussed above.
The book value of the Elk Creek Complex property and its associated plant and equipment was $264 million as of December 31, 2022. The Elk Creek Complex utilizes industry standard, modern surface and underground mining equipment, processing equipment and infrastructure that is in good operating condition and capable of meeting planned production requirements using prudent operating methods and operating schedules.
The Elk Creek Complex produces a high quality, high-volatile metallurgical coal. Historically, the market for metallurgical coal from the Elk Creek Complex has been domestic metallurgical coal consumers and the global seaborne metallurgical coal market. Coal produced from the complex is primarily high-volatile A and high-volatile B metallurgical coal. The Elk Creek Complex also produces thermal coal and specialty coals, which represent approximately five percent of sales.
Volatiles refers to the volatile matter contained in the coal. Classification of coal as low, mid or high-volatile refers to the specific volatile content within the coal, with coals of 17% to 22% volatile matter being classified as low-volatile, 23% to 31% as mid volatile and 32% or greater as high-volatile. The volatile matter in coal impacts coke yield (i.e. the amount of coke and coke by-products produced per ton of coal charged). Low-volatile coal contains more carbon, but too much carbon can result in coke oven damage. Too much volatile matter results in less carbon and reduces the volume of coke produced. Therefore, coke producers use blends of high-volatile and low-volatile coals for coke production.
We are unaware of any significant encumbrances to the Elk Creek Complex, including current and future permitting requirements and associated timelines, permit conditions, and violations and fines.
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Berwind Complex
The Berwind Complex is located approximately 80 miles south of Charleston, West Virginia; 100 miles west of Roanoke, Virginia; 60 miles northeast of Kingsport, Tennessee; and 160 miles east/southeast of Lexington, Kentucky at N 37.164522, W 81.744893. The complex includes areas in Buchanan and Tazewell Counties, Virginia and McDowell County, West Virginia. The Berwind Complex is within the Southwestern Virginia and Southern West Virginia coal fields of the CAPP Region of the United States.
The Berwind Complex and surrounding area has an extensive history of coal mining, primarily by underground mining methods. Mining within the Berwind/Knox Creek Complex likely began in the early-1900s and there have been many different mine operators both large and small in the region since then.
The Berwind Property consists of approximately 62,500 acres of leased coal holdings located in McDowell County, West Virginia and Buchanan and Tazewell Counties, Virginia. Ramaco obtained their initial lease for this property in 2015 and commenced mine operations in 2017. The Berwind Complex is in the production stage and currently has three active mines, one mine that was idle at December 31, 2022 and subsequently reactivated in the first quarter of 2023, and one permitted mine. The three mines that were active at December 31, 2022 include one contour surface mine developing areas for a highwall miner, and two underground room and pillar mines, which use continuous miners for mine development. Ramaco started operations at the Berwind Pocahontas 4 Deep Mine in 2017 and idled the mine in mid-July 2022 due to an ignition that an investigation by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) suggests was caused by lightning that struck a pilot hole for a new shaft. Production at the Berwind No. 1 Deep Mine restarted in the first quarter of 2023.
A majority of the underground mines implement retreat mining, which typically results in mining recovery of greater than 80 percent. Contour mining has an average mining recovery of approximately 90 percent, and the highwall mine has an average mining recovery of approximately 40 percent.
The Berwind Complex is mining several seams and seam splits, including the Pocahontas 6, Pocahontas 5, Pocahontas 4 and Pocahontas 3 seams, in descending stratigraphic order.
Active Mines:
● Laurel Fork Pocahontas 3 Deep Mine
● Triad No. 2 Deep Mine
● Triple S Surface and Highwall Mine
Idle Mine:
● Berwind No. 1 Pocahontas 4 Deep Mine (idle at December 31, 2022 but reactivated in the first quarter of 2023)
Permitted Mines:
● Squire Jim No. 1 Deep Mine, permitted but not planned for startup
The current Berwind Complex Life-of-Mine (LOM) Plan projects mining through 2049, an expected mine life for the complex of 27 years. Ramaco projects total annual production to be approximately 0.9 million clean tons until another super-section is started in the Berwind No. 1 Deep Mine in 2027, and average 1.2 million clean tons per year through 2040 when the Berwind No. 1 Deep Mine is nearing end of mine life. After this, the single-section Laurel Fork Deep Mine is currently planned to operate into 2049 at an average annual rate of approximately 307 thousand clean tons per year. However, it is likely future mines will be planned and scheduled, as necessary, from resource areas within the complex, to meet internal Ramaco production goals aligned with market conditions.
All Run-of-Mine (ROM) coal is washed at the Berwind Preparation Plant with no planned direct shipment coal. The Berwind Preparation Plant was initially built in 1955 and commissioned in 1957. Ramaco refurbished the preparation plant in 2021 and 2022 based on a design by Ramsey Industrial, with a current ROM processing capacity of 600 tons per hour.
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The book value of the Berwind Complex property and its associated plant and equipment is $148 million as of December 31, 2022. The Berwind Complex utilizes industry standard, modern surface and underground mining equipment, processing equipment and infrastructure that is in good operating condition and capable of meeting planned production requirements using prudent operating methods and operating schedules.
The Berwind Complex produces high quality, mid and low volatile metallurgical coal. Historically, the market for metallurgical coal from the Berwind Complex has been for both domestic metallurgical coal consumers and the global seaborne metallurgical coal market.
We are unaware of any significant encumbrances to the Berwind Complex, including current and future permitting requirements and associated timelines, permit conditions, and violations and fines.
Knox Creek Complex
The Knox Creek Complex consists of two general properties or areas as follows:
● Big Creek Property; and
● Knox Creek Property
The Knox Creek Complex is located approximately 80 miles south of Charleston, West Virginia; 100 miles west of Roanoke, Virginia; 60 miles northeast of Kingsport, Tennessee; and 160 miles east/southeast of Lexington, Kentucky at N 37.164522, W 81.744893. The complex includes areas in Buchanan, Russell and Tazewell Counties, Virginia and McDowell County, West Virginia. The Knox Creek Complex is within the Southwestern Virginia and Southern West Virginia coal fields of the CAPP Region of the United States.
The Knox Creek Complex and surrounding area has an extensive history of coal mining, primarily by underground mining methods. Mining within the Knox Creek Complex likely began in the early-1900s and there have been many different mine operators both large and small in the region since then.
The Knox Creek Complex consists of approximately 74,400 acres of owned and leased coal holdings. Within the Knox Creek Complex controlled coal holdings, 9,250 acres lie in McDowell County, West Virginia. The Knox Creek Complex is in the production stage and currently has two active mines and two planned and permitted mines. There are no active or planned West Virginia mines currently within the Knox Creek Complex. The two active mines include one contour surface mine developing areas for a highwall miner, and one underground room and pillar mine, which uses continuous miners for mine development. Ramaco began production of metallurgical coal at the complex in 2019. The underground mines will implement retreat mining, which typically results in mining recovery of 50 to 80 percent. At the surface mine, contour mining has an average mining recovery of approximately 90 percent, and highwall mining has an average mining recovery of approximately 40 percent.
The Knox Creek Complex is mining or plans to mine several seams and seam splits, including the Jawbone, Kennedy and Tiller seams.
Active Mines:
● Big Creek Jawbone No. 1 Deep Mine
● Big Creek Surface and Highwall Mine
Planned and Permitted Mines:
● Knox Creek Tiller Deep Mine, scheduled for 2024 startup
● Kennedy No. 3 Deep Mine, scheduled for 2024 startup
The current Knox Creek Complex Life-of-Mine (LOM) Plan projects mining through 2037, an expected mine life for the complex of 15 years. It is anticipated that future mines will be planned and scheduled, as necessary, from resource areas within the complex, to meet internal Ramaco production goals aligned with market conditions.
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All Run-of-Mine (ROM) coal is washed at the Knox Creek Preparation Plant. The Knox Creek Preparation Plant, built in 1981 by Powell Construction Company located in Johnson City, Tennessee, is a well designed and constructed preparation plant, with ROM processing capacity of 750 tons per hour.
The book value of the Knox Creek Complex property and its associated plant and equipment is $31 million as of December 31, 2022. The Knox Creek Complex utilizes industry standard, modern surface and underground mining equipment, processing equipment and infrastructure that is in good operating condition and capable of meeting planned production requirements using prudent operating methods and operating schedules.
The Knox Creek Complex produces high quality, mid and high volatile metallurgical coal. Historically, the market for metallurgical coal from the Knox Creek Complex has included both domestic metallurgical coal consumers and the global seaborne metallurgical coal market. The Knox Creek Complex also sporadically produces a minimal quantity of thermal coal from the surface mine from oxidized zones.
We are unaware of any significant encumbrances to the Knox Creek Complex, including current and future permitting requirements and associated timelines, permit conditions, and violations and fines.
Summary of Mineral Resources and Reserves
Summaries of our mineral resources and reserves at December 31, 2022, are set forth in Tables 1 and 2.
Table 1. Summary Mineral Resources at end of Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2022
Measured Mineral Resources
Indicated Mineral Resources
Measured + Indicated
Mineral Resources
Inferred Mineral Resources
Coal Quality (Dry Basis) Raw
Coal Quality (Dry Basis) Raw
Coal Quality (Dry Basis) Raw
Coal Quality (Dry Basis) Raw
Amount
(000 Tons)
Ash (%)
Relative Density
(Lbs./Cu.Ft.)
Amount
(000 Tons)
Ash (%)
Relative Density
(Lbs./Cu.Ft.)
Amount
(000 Tons)
Ash (%)
Relative Density
(Lbs./Cu.Ft.)
Amount
(000 Tons)
Ash (%)
Relative Density
(Lbs./Cu.Ft.)
Area
Berwind Complex
558,581
20.40
91.06
70,376
20.40
91.06
628,957
20.40
91.06
4,495
20.40
91.06
Knox Creek Complex
Big Creek Property
35,021
14.10
91.42
—
—
—
35,021
14.10
91.42
—
—
—
Knox Creek Property
258,795
13.50
87.76
6,765
13.50
87.76
265,560
13.50
87.76
—
—
—
Elk Creek Complex
Ram Surface
96,776
15.42
88.42
12,626
15.42
88.42
109,402
15.42
88.42
—
15.42
88.42
Crucible Deep
2,285
8.74
84.04
730
8.74
84.04
3,015
8.74
84.04
—
8.74
84.04
Stonecoal No. 2 Alma Deep Mine
19,928
14.32
86.83
3,041
14.32
86.83
22,969
14.32
86.83
—
14.32
86.83
Michael Powellton Mine
—
32.24
97.85
—
32.24
97.85
—
32.24
97.85
—
32.24
97.85
Rockhouse Eagle Deep Mine
4,065
19.62
89.07
35
19.62
89.07
4,100
19.62
89.07
—
19.62
89.07
Moorfork Mine
2,390
15.49
82.24
360
15.49
82.24
2,750
15.49
82.24
—
15.49
82.24
Bens Creek Deep Mine
15,510
25.83
93.81
24,425
25.83
93.81
39,935
25.83
93.81
—
25.83
93.81
Lower War Eagle
4,965
21.76
90.64
2,870
21.76
90.64
7,835
21.76
90.64
70
21.76
90.64
Glenalum Tunnel #1 Deep Mine
9,295
4.80
81.13
10,855
4.80
81.13
20,150
4.80
81.13
815
4.80
81.13
Gilbert Deep Mine
2,085
23.56
92.66
2,565
23.56
92.66
4,650
23.56
92.66
85
23.56
92.66
RAM Mine
3,724
6.00
81.12
7,716
6.00
81.12
11,440
6.00
81.12
—
—
—
Grand Total
1,013,420
142,364
1,155,784
5,465
Notes:
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● Mineral Resources reported above are not Mineral Reserves and do not meet the threshold for reserve modifying factors, such as estimated economic viability, that would allow for conversion to mineral reserves. There is no certainty that any part of the Mineral Resources estimated will be converted into Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources reported here are exclusive of Mineral Reserves.
● Resource probable economic mineability is based on underground minable resources with 2.0 feet minimum seam thickness, surface and highwall mines with 1.0 feet minimum seam thickness, area mining with a cutoff stripping ratio of 20:1, and primarily metallurgical low and mid-volatile coal at the Berwind Complex realizing a sales price of $169 per ton at a cash cost of $101 per clean ton (FOB Mine), primarily metallurgical mid and high-volatile at the Knox Creek Complex realizing a sales price of $184 per ton and cash cost of $99 per clean ton (FOB Mine), and primarily metallurgical high-volatile A and high-volatile B coal at the Elk Creek Complex realizing a sales price of $131 per ton at a cash cost of $77 per clean ton (FOB Mine).
● Numbers in the table have been rounded to reflect the accuracy of the estimate and may not sum due to rounding.
Table 2. Summary Mineral Reserves at end of Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2022
Proven Mineral Reserves
Probable Mineral Reserves
Proven + Probable Mineral Reserves
Coal Quality (Dry Basis) Raw
Coal Quality (Dry Basis) Raw
Coal Quality (Dry Basis) Raw
Amount
(000 Tons)
Ash (%)
Relative Density
(Lbs./Cu.Ft.)
Amount
(000 Tons)
Ash (%)
Relative Density
(Lbs./Cu.Ft.)
Amount
(000 Tons)
Ash (%)
Relative Density
(Lbs./Cu.Ft.)
Area
Berwind Complex
Berwind No. 1 Deep Mine
16,897
23.39
92.58
26
23.39
92.58
16,923
23.70
92.82
Laurel Fork Deep Mine
6,188
10.50
84.32
22
12.10
84.89
6,210
10.60
84.32
Triple S Highwall Mine
171
11.20
84.89
44
11.10
84.89
215
11.10
84.89
Triad No. 2 Deep Mine
259
39.50
102.58
—
—
—
259
39.50
102.58
Knox Creek Complex
Big Creek Surface and Highwall Mine
348
19.03
89.73
—
—
—
348
19.03
89.73
Big Creek Jawbone 1 Deep Mine
586
30.60
97.16
—
—
—
586
30.60
97.16
Knox Creek Tiller Deep Mine
6,362
16.10
88.05
—
—
—
6,362
16.10
88.05
Kennedy No. 3 Deep Mine
720
13.60
86.48
—
—
—
720
13.60
86.48
Elk Creek Complex
Ram Surface and Highwall Mine
1,574
15.10
87.10
35
15.10
87.10
1,609
15.10
87.10
Ram Surface 3 and Highwall Mine
2,760
15.80
87.80
440
15.80
87.80
3,200
15.80
87.80
Crucible Deep
4,180
10.40
84.10
645
10.40
84.10
4,825
10.40
84.10
Stonecoal No. 2 Alma Deep Mine
4,893
23.80
84.60
290
23.80
84.60
5,183
23.80
84.60
Michael Powellton Mine
1,073
42.80
104.60
—
42.80
104.60
1,073
42.80
104.60
Rockhouse Eagle Deep Mine
1,728
16.30
87.80
495
16.30
87.80
2,223
16.30
87.80
No. 2 Gas Deep Mine
3,722
27.90
94.40
455
27.90
94.40
4,177
27.90
94.40
Eight-Kay
1,390
12.30
85.70
240
12.30
85.70
1,630
12.30
85.70
Bens Creek Deep Mine
1,670
28.60
95.80
170
28.60
95.80
1,840
28.60
95.80
Glenalum Tunnel #1 Deep Mine
2,380
5.90
81.80
2,190
5.90
81.80
4,570
5.90
81.80
Grand Total
56,901
5,052
61,953
Notes:
● Clean recoverable reserve tonnage based on underground mining recovery of 50 to 80 percent (contingent upon retreat mining capability), 90 percent for surface mining, 40 percent for highwall mining, theoretical preparation plant yield, and a 95 percent preparation plant efficiency.
● Mineral Reserves estimated for the Berwind Complex are based primarily on metallurgical low and mid-volatile coal realizing a sales price of $169 per ton at a cash cost of $101 per clean ton (FOB Mine), primarily metallurgical mid and high-volatile coal at the Knox Creek Complex realizing a sales price of $184 per ton and cash cost of $99 per clean ton (FOB mine), and primarily a metallurgical high-volatile A and high-volatile B coal at the Elk Creek Complex realizing a sales price of $131 per ton at a cash cost of $77 per clean ton (FOB Mine).
● Numbers in the table have been rounded to reflect the accuracy of the estimate and may not sum due to rounding.
● Mineral Reserves are reported exclusive of Mineral Resources.
Our coal resource and reserve estimates at December 31, 2022, were prepared by a qualified person (“QP”) and have a basis in periodic, historical reserve studies completed by third-party geological engineering firms. Our coal resource and reserve estimates are based on data obtained from our drilling activities and other available geologic data. Acquisitions or sales of coal properties will change these estimates. Changes in mining methods or the utilization of new technologies may increase or decrease the recovery basis for a coal seam. The most recent studies of our coal reserves for the Elk Creek Complex, Berwind Complex, Knox Creek Complex, and RAM Mine were prepared by an independent engineering firm,
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Weir International, Inc. (“Weir”). In periods between third party updates, we update reserves utilizing our internal staff of engineers and geologists based upon production data. We intend to continue to periodically retain outside experts to assist management with the verification of our estimates of our coal reserves going forward.
Weir prepared our reserve reporting in compliance with the Regulation S-K 1300 requirements. Weir initiated this process with us by completing a historical project review as well as its validation of our complete drill hole database. Weir validated that property control is accurately reflected in reserve modeling, verifying the latest property boundaries, including control by each individual seam. Weir also examined reserve boundaries to ensure agreement with mining parameters, such as minimum thickness, minimum yield and minimum inter-burden between seams. Resource classification is determined based on the expectation of our meeting these mining parameters. Weir also conducted mining integrity checks to ensure each reserve area is minable.
In determining whether our reserves meet this standard, we take into account, among other things, our potential ability to obtain a mining permit, the possible necessity of revising a mining plan, changes in estimated future costs, changes in future cash flows caused by changes in costs required to be incurred to meet regulatory requirements and obtaining or renewing mining permits, variations in quantity and quality of coal, and varying levels of demand and their effects on selling prices. Further, the economic recoverability of our reserves is based on market conditions including contracted pricing, market pricing and overall demand for our coal. Thus, the actual value at which we no longer consider our reserves to be economically recoverable varies depending on the length of time in which the specific market conditions are expected to last. We consider our reserves to be economically recoverable at a price in excess of our cash costs to mine the coal and fund our ongoing replacement capital. The reserves in this Annual Report are classified by reliability or accuracy in decreasing order of geological assurance as Proven (Measured) and Probable (Indicated).
Summaries of the mineral resources and mineral reserves as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 are shown below. Weir served as the QP and prepared the estimates of mineral resources and mineral reserves at the Berwind Complex, Knox Creek Complex, and Elk Creek Complex. A copy of the QP’s TRS with respect to the mineral resource and reserve estimates at the Berwind Complex, dated March 9, 2023, with an effective date of December 31, 2022 (the “Berwind TRS”), is filed as Exhibit 96.1, and at the Knox Creek Complex, dated March 9, 2023, with an effective date of December 31, 2022 (“Knox Creek TRS”), is filed as Exhibit 96.2. Since a material change has not occurred from the last TRS filed for the Elk Creek Complex, the previous year’s TRS has not been updated. Refer to Exhibit 96.3.
Year ended December 31,
Year ended December 31,
2022
2021
(in millions)
Measured + Indicated In-Place Resources
Proven + Probable Clean Recoverable Reserves
Measured + Indicated In-Place Resources
Proven + Probable Clean Recoverable Reserves
Area
Berwind Complex
629
24
239
9
Knox Creek Complex
301
8
296
1
Elk Creek Complex
215
30
223
29
RAM Mine
11
—
11
—
Total
1,156
62
769
39
Estimates of coal reserves and resources are updated annually to reflect changes resulting from active mine production, mine plan modifications, property acquisitions/sales, impacts of additional exploration drilling, and any other changes that impact remaining coal reserve and resource tonnage.
The combined proven and probable reserves at the Berwind, Knox Creek and Elk Creek Complexes increased by 23 million tons, driven by 14 million tons resulting from property acquisitions within the Berwind Complex as well as the conversion of mineral resources to mineral reserves within the Knox Creek Complex. Similarly, measured and indicated coal resources increased by 387 million tons, driven by 384 million tons resulting from property acquisitions within the Berwind Complex.
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Table of Contents
Key assumptions and parameters relating to the mineral resources and mineral reserves are discussed in sections 11 and 12, respectively, of each TRS.
Internal Controls
In our exploration and mineral resource and reserve estimation efforts, we utilize an American National Standards Institute certified third-party laboratory, which has in-house quality control and assurance procedures. Once in possession of the samples, the laboratory standard sample preparation and security procedures are followed. After the sample has been tested, reviewed, and accepted, the disposal of the sample is done in accordance with local, state and EPA approved methods.
Weir has determined the sample preparation, security and analysis procedures used for our drillhole samples meet current coal industry standards and practices for quality testing, with laboratory results suitable to use for geological modeling, mineral resource estimation and economic evaluation.
Year-end reserve estimates are and will continue to be reviewed by our Chief Executive Officer and other senior management, and revisions are communicated to our board of directors. Inaccuracies in our estimates of our coal reserves could result in decreased profitability from lower than expected revenue or higher than expected costs. Actual production recovered from identified reserve areas and properties, and revenue and expenditures associated with our mining operations, may vary materially from estimates.