North Antelope Rochelle Mine ships approximately 9.5 million tons of coal annually to Associated Electric generating stations.

One of the nation's most productive mines based on the latest government data, the mine shipped a record 82.7Mt of coal in 2005, or 7% of all US coal production.

The North Antelope mine is operated by Peabody's Powder River Coal LLC subsidiary.

Group vice-president of western operations Kemal Williamson said the mine was a safe, productive mine that ships some of the lowest-sulfur coal in America.

“Thanks to the Powder River team on accomplishing this milestone with an important long-term customer, and continuing to operate safely and productively as we meet record US coal demand," he said.

North Antelope Rochelle is the result of the joining of North Antelope, established in 1983, and the Rochelle operation, which commenced production in late 1985. The two officially combined in 1999.

Last month, the 800-worker operation took top honours for safety in Wyoming’s inaugural Embrace Safety for Life safety awards conference in the large mine category, reporting only 0.87 reportable injuries for every 200,000 man-hours worked in 2005.

North Antelope Rochelle also was bestowed the US Department of Labor's Sentinels of Safety award in 2004.

Peabody Energy is the largest coal company in the Powder River Basin, both on a sales and reserve basis.