Alaska coal exports up in 2009
The Associated Press
FAIRBANKS – Alaska’s coal exports have increased following a two-year slump, and the state’s sole producer is optimistic they will remain strong despite international efforts to regulate fossil fuel use.
Shipments to Asia and Chile by Usibelli Coal Mine should reach 817,000 tons this year, more than the previous two years combined, company vice president Steve Denton said during a Wednesday night panel discussion about the state’s coal industry.
Usibelli produces roughly 1.5 million tons of coal per year. The bulk goes either to cogeneration power plants, which produce both electricity and feed underground district heating networks, or is exported.
Denton said various factors make Alaska coal attractive to international buyers. Shipping costs across the Pacific Ocean fell last year, he said, making it cheaper to sell coal overseas and increasing profit at home.
“When price goes down on shipping, it’s generally good for us,” Denton said.
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