MCPA Coal Executives Discuss Industry Outlook on First Day of Annual Conference

ROANOKE, WV (MAY 19, 2025) – The current state of the metallurgical coal industry is one filled with optimism and challenges, industry leaders agreed Monday during the opening session of the Metallurgical Coal Producers Association (MCPA) annual conference and expo.

The theme for this year’s conference, being held at Stonewall Resort in Roanoke, WV, is “Community, Opportunity, Impact … Steel!” The conference continues through Tuesday.

Executives from MCPA coal producer members, including Andy Edison, Alpha Metallurgical Resources; Charlie Bearse, Blackhawk Mining, LLC; J.P. Richardson, United Coal Company LLC (a subsidiary of Metinvest Group); Scott Kreutzer, RAMACO Resources, Inc.; and Chris Anderson, Robindale Energy, led the panel discussion, addressing topics including current markets and community impact.

Anderson noted the current market found Met Coal producers navigating the uncertain supply/demand and geopolitical activities affecting markets at present.

Eidson and Kreutzer agreed it was a time producers choose to focus on things they can control like safety since other things like the overall market are not things producers can control.

“While these are challenging times, I think the future is still extremely bright,” Eidson said. “We have some of the best coal in the world right here in Appalachia and we’ll be around to produce it.”

“We’ve seen a lot of peaks and valleys through the years and now is a time we keep our core assets operational and get ready for the time when the makers come back around,” Richardson said.

Anderson agreed, noting the markets are cyclical – as they always have been -- and that now is a time to take things one day at a time and to hold on to optimism for the future.

From a community standpoint, all agreed their companies were fully involved in supporting little leagues, education, community events, food pantries and more and some spoke of their employee volunteer hours in the community.

“We are there with our communities to celebrate in the good times and to help out in the bad times,” Richardson said. Richardson is also the current MCPA chairman.

Anderson agreed, adding, “we believe in investing and re-investing in our communities to make the place we live and work better and stronger.”

Several examples of where the industry has stepped up to partner with communities were cited, including the work by many to assist with heavy equipment and operators in the wake of natural disasters -- to working with communities on planned major initiatives and infrastructure needs such as the work recently completed by Metinvest as part of its reclamation plan to provide the community with the rough grade runway for the new Breaks Regional Airport in Buchanan County, VA. Anderson cited reclamation activities undertaken by industry and the rebuilding of trout streams by his company.

The producer panel also addressed workforce and the pride they and their employees take in working in the industry and the ability to provide good paying jobs which sustain families and allow them to stay in the communities in which many of them have grown up in and lived in most of their lives.

Ernie Thrasher, founder, president and CEO of Xcoal Energy & Resources, spoke about some of the market uncertainties on a geopolitical level including global economic uncertainties, flat demand, an  increase in global Met production and increases in Chinese steel exports, all of which impact markets.

He said for the rest of 2025, economic and political challenges and other factors will affect the market and that mining issues in Australia could reduce available of Australian Met coal, which would then support additional U.S. coal exports.

Thrasher noted U.S. policies to assess tariffs on imports has disrupted global trade and trading patterns. Supply side shortfalls have been resolved by increased supply from Mongolia domestic production in China and domestic production in India.

On the bright side, Thrasher said the potential for positive influences on the domestic coal market are there due to the current administration’s policies to support coal. The designation of steelmaking coal as a “critical material and mineral” will help to ensure the U.S. maintains a stable supply, he added.

Conference attendees also heard from West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCluskey who said changes in the way coal is viewed by the federal government have resulted in the industry and its employees being told that what they do matters.

“It makes our country stronger and your job is both patriotic and important,” McCluskey said. “We live in a world now where your industry is prioritized – in a good way – relative to energy and manufacturing policies.”

The final panel of the day was one looking at environmental issues. Brooks Smith with Troutman Pepper Locke moderated the session. Panelists were Randy Moore, with Virginia Energy; and Jonathan Rohrer with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.

Smith noted there are moves taking place now to move environmental protection to the state level, recognizing the states are best equipped to regulate their industries. The panel discussed fish and wildlife, the 10-day notice rule, OSM, the Army Corps of Engineers and coming changes expected in regulatory reform which the panelists indicated should result in a more commonsense regulatory environment.

MCPA President Ben Beakes thanked Monday’s presenters and noted the MCPA has grown since it first started in 2020 with four original coal producers. Currently, the organization has seven coal producer members.

“We are the authority on Met coal in the United States and we are thrilled to tell our story,” Beakes said. “Remember, Met Coal Makes Steel!”

The conference will resume Tuesday with a second business session beginning at 8 a.m. The conference concludes Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.