US Steel declared "force majeure" provisions over their coal-supply contracts. The company’s Oak Grove mine in Alabama and Pinnacle No. 50 mine in West Virginia recently had geological problems which have disrupted coal production. These conditions, including weak roof conditions, may persist for some time and may required the relocation of the longwalls. The company told customers that major forces akin to an act of God have made them unable to fulfill their contracts.
The production delays will cause U.S. Steel Group's fourth-quarter pre-tax coal revenues to decline by $US10 million to $US20 million from the same period in 1999. In the previous year’s fourth quarter, the group earned $US34 million.
US Steel produces around 7.6 million tons of coal per annum. Roughly 10% of that is steaming coal while the remaining 90% is metallurgical. About 47% of the two mines' production goes to the steel export market and 40% to the domestic steel industry. Oak Grove produces around 2.8 million tons per annum coal and Pinnacle No. 50 produces around 4.8 million tons per annum.
The disruption is expected to have only a minor impact on the US domestic steel industry, which is operating at about 75% of capacity, analysts said.
