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Coal mining company to lay off 118 in Southwest Virginia
Wellmore Energy Co. a metallurgical coal mining company, is again planning to lay off workers in Buchanan County.
US, Australia sign critical-minerals agreement to counter China
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a critical-minerals deal at the White House on Monday as the U.S. eyes the continent’s rich rare-earth resources when China is imposing tougher rules on exporting its own critical minerals abroad. The two leaders described the agreement as an $8.5 billion deal between the […]
Mining company partners with Virginia Tech on rare earths plant
Aclara plans to invest $10 million on rare earths separation pilot plant at Virginia Tech to boost U.S. supply chain
Wellmore to lay off 72 coal workers in Southwest Virginia
Wellmore Energy will lay off 72 coal workers across operations in Grundy, Hurley, and Big Rock, Virginia, with cuts beginning in early September.
Trump coal policy changes could boost Southwest Virginia
Southwest Virginia officials say President Donald Trump’s executive orders aimed at revitalizing the United States’ struggling coal industry will be a boon to the region. This spring, Trump signed the “Unleashing American Energy” series of executive orders, which lifted barriers to coal mining on federal lands, allowed some coal-fired facilities scheduled for retirement to continue[...]
Copper prices have soared as the US threatens tariffs on the metal and China boosts its economy
NEW YORK (AP) — Copper prices have hit record highs as an ongoing trade war between the U.S. and its key trading partners threatens to squeeze supplies of the vital metal. Buyers in the U.S. have been stocking up on copper ahead of potential tariffs. Future prices for the base metal hit $5.21 per pound […]
Simmons Equipment announces $8.5M expansion into Russell County
Simmons Equipment, a specialty mining equipment manufacturer based in Tazewell County, plans to expand into neighboring Russell County, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday. The company expects to invest $8.5 million into converting two buildings in Lebanon, an investment set to create 75 jobs, the governor’s office said. Founded in Tazewell in 2005, Simmons produces soft […]
Liebherr to expand Newport News-Hampton facility
Newport News-based Liebherr Mining Equipment will invest $72.3 million to expand a plant at the border of Newport News and Hampton, creating an estimated 175 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Tuesday. “We thank Liebherr, an international leader in mining equipment manufacturing, for its commitment to the commonwealth of Virginia,” Youngkin said in a statement. “Liebherr […]
Critical minerals co. reactivates Petersburg operation
Petersburg-based Atlantic Strategic Minerals will invest more than $50 million to restore and reopen a mining operation in Dinwiddie County and a concentrator plant and mineral separation plant in Sussex County, producing critical minerals that are used in various supply chains, the governor’s office announced Monday. The project is expected to create 71 jobs at […]
SWVA clean energy development could draw $8.5B in investments
Wise County and neighboring localities in Southwest Virginia may become home to a massive clean energy development that could attract up to $8.25 billion in capital investments, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday. An agreement between Energy DELTA Lab, Dallas-based Fortune 100 energy company Energy Transfer and Wise County will involve the development of 65,000 acres […]
Tech students dig into high-tech mock mine
Robots don’t belong on volleyball courts, but for more than a decade Virginia Tech students had no other large, sandy place to test out mining robots. It was “a real lost opportunity” that students didn’t have a dedicated space to work with mining machines, says Erik Westman, a professor and interim department head at Tech’s […]
Filling the steel gap
Metallurgical coal may be an unknown to the general population, but it’s very important to the manufacturing of steel and also valuable in the current economy. In August 2022, Australia-based Coronado Global Resources Inc., which produces metallurgical coal, announced a $169.1 million expansion of its Buchanan Mine Complex in Buchanan and Tazewell counties, expected to […]
