John Baugues, Jr. and Coalmine Development Fundamentals:
Quality Resources

John Baugues, Jr. and Coalmine Development Fundamentals: quality resources John Baugues, Jr., a fourth-generation coalmine developer from West Virginia, knows that in order to have a successful coal mining operation, you first need access to a promising source of coal.

Global supply is not scarce, with over 847 million tons of proven coal reserves worldwide – that is, coal resources that are known to exist and whose recovery is economically viable. The biggest reserves exist in the USA, Russia, China, and India. The American coal mining industry is robust, and for 30 years, John Baugues has been a key player in US coal mining ventures throughout the coal-rich Appalachians and the Midwest.

One essential factor contributing to Baugues' success is the quality of the coal tapped for his mining ventures. Varied properties make coal reserves in one place more suitable or desirable for certain uses than coal from other locations, as John Baugues knows well. Some of the best coal in the world used for steelmaking can be found abundantly in Kentucky, for instance, site of a John Baugues, Jr. coal project. John Baugues, Jr. recently acquired a coal preparation facility in Eastern Kentucky, which will provide mutual benefits to both Baugues and the Appalachian mining industry. John Baugues Jr.' investments in Montana and Pennsylvania likewise capitalize on some of the finest coal resources the country has to offer.

The lesson: focus on the quality – not just the quantity – of coal that is potentially recoverable.