Consol’s four northern Appalachia mines in Pennsylvania and West Virginia – Bailey, Bailey Mine Extension (BMX), Robinson Run and Shoemaker – will receive more than 1100 roof supports, two armoured face conveyors, a shearer and three shield haulers.

CONSOL is also equipping all four longwall systems with the Cat PMC-R electro-hydraulic control system for advanced automation, and Cat Detect Personnel, a proximity detection system to enhance miner safety around longwall systems.

Delivery should be complete by the summer.

Consol Energy chief operating officer Bart Hyita said the equipment would help the company maintain its competitive market edge.

“Consistent with Consol Energy’s core values of safety, compliance and continuous improvement, the new Cat technology incorporated within this equipment will help us improve the safety and efficiency of all four mines,” he said.

“We are excited to deploy the latest innovations that Caterpillar has to offer and are confident that they will allow us to continue to improve safety and be the lowest-cost producer in the United States.”

Consol’s McElroy mine will also undergo a facelift, receiving 60 roof supports to extend the longwall face.

According to a statement from Caterpillar, Consol has plans to make its PMC-R controls standard in all of its mines. It will upgrade the Enlow Fork mine and Shoemaker to the PMC-R electro-hydraulic systems, leaving just two of Consol’s 11 faces to be upgraded.