en.Wedoany.com Reported - On August 13, Canadian-listed mining company Clinch Resources announced the acquisition of a second full set of mining equipment for its Lanes Branch surface mine in the United States, aimed at expanding overburden removal, excavation, and coal production capacity. The mine, located in Brenton, Wyoming County, West Virginia, primarily produces medium-volatile coking coal for steel smelting. The company did not disclose the acquisition amount or the specific equipment list.
Clinch Resources commenced mining operations at the Lanes Branch surface mine on April 20, 2026, with the first full equipment set immediately put into service. The company planned at the time to deploy a second equipment set within 90 days to enhance coal extraction and shipping capacity. On May 20, the mine achieved commercial-grade coking coal production, transitioning from the mine development phase to the commercial operation phase.
On July 23, the first train of approximately 11,000 short tons of commercial-grade coking coal from the Lanes Branch mine was sold, and the first seaborne shipment of approximately 65,000 short tons of coking coal is scheduled for early September. The Caterpillar HW 300 highwall miner deployed at the mine is planned to enter production in August, expected to increase monthly output to over 40,000 short tons, with the company targeting monthly output of over 80,000 short tons by the end of 2026.
The Lanes Branch mine is located within Clinch Resources' ARI project area, covering approximately 54,000 acres. The Caterpillar HW 300 highwall miner previously acquired by the company has a design target of producing approximately 180,000 short tons of clean coal per year per unit, with a target cash cost of less than $60 per short ton. Highwall mining technology recovers coal resources from exposed coal seams at surface mines that are not economically viable to extract using conventional mining methods.
Following the commissioning of the second full equipment set, subsequent mine operations may generate ongoing demand for hydraulic excavators, mining trucks, bulldozers, wheel loaders, crushing and screening equipment, conveyor systems, tires, hydraulic components, wear parts, lubrication systems, dust control, and equipment maintenance services. Specific procurement plans have not yet been announced.
