The London-headquartered body has 41 coal-related company, association and stakeholder members across the globe.

GE Mining, which has generation, water treatment, automation and finance arms, follows in the path of Orica, which became a WCA member earlier this year.

“The WCA is the only organisation to give the coal industry a strong voice on the international stage,” GE Mining and GE Transport Australia and New Zealand chief executive officer Geoff Knox said.

“We are looking forward to working with the association and its members on the challenges and exciting prospects that face the industry.”

WCA CEO Milton Catelin said the WCA was in a fantastic position to engage on wider issues across the coal chain.

“By joining the WCA, GE Mining has recognised the WCA’s role in helping to secure the future of the global coal industry and we look forward to their input,” he said.

GE has made considerable and rapid moves into global energy over the past year, acquiring Virginia underground equipment producer Fairchild International, Australian mining equipment manufacturer Industrea and, most recently, oilfield services provider Lufkin.

There was also some speculation late last year that GE was going to increase the strength of its foray into the booming industry with the takeover of Joy Global in a similar move to Caterpillar’s 2011 purchase of Bucyrus, one of Joy’s main competitors in the underground coal and surface mining market.