State coal production improving after dismal 2020.

Byline: S. Kamal Hayder Kazmi

After a big dip in 2020, Colorado coal production volumes are improving somewhat this year, boosted by higher demand for thermal coal used in power production as the United States and world recover economically from the worst impacts of the pandemic.

Arch Resources' West Elk Mine is leading mines statewide in production, at about 2.12 million tons through the first nine months of the year, according to Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety data. That puts it on a pace to exceed this year the 2.4 million tons it mined in all of 2020.

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