According to Mining Weekly, on the 2nd, the US Department of the Interior (DoI) announced it will advance three competitive coal lease sales this fall, covering tracts in Alabama, Montana, and Utah, as part of President Trump's initiative to expand domestic energy production.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated in a release, "Coal has long been a cornerstone of US energy and industrial development. These lease sales will create high-paying jobs, support local communities, and secure the resources that keep America strong."
In Alabama, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will auction two mineral tracts on private land in Tuscaloosa County, totaling 5,686 hectares. These tracts contain 53 million mt of recoverable coking coal, designated as a critical material under the US Energy Act of 2020. The sealed-bid auction will be held on September 30 in Falls Church, Virginia.
BLM also plans to offer the 48.5-hectare Little Eccles Tract in Emery County, Utah, with an estimated recoverable reserve of 1.29 million mt. Canyon Fuel, operator of the Skyline mine, has submitted an application. Sealed bids are due by October 1, with the auction to be held that afternoon in Salt Lake City.
In Big Horn County, Montana, BLM will proceed with a 510-hectare tract auction containing 167.5 million mt of coal reserves. Navajo Transitional Energy, operator of the Spring Creek mine, filed the application. If awarded, the lease would extend the mine's lifespan to 2051. The auction will take place on October 6 in Billings, Montana, with sealed bids due by October 3.
Each lease remains subject to federal review, including environmental assessments and public comments. Bidders must obtain required state and federal permits, including an approved mining plan.
