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EIA ReportsU.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Coal Production Sets New Record in 1996 As Number of Mines Continues To DeclineAfter remaining essentially unchanged for two years, coal production in the United States increased 3 percent to set a record level of 1,064 million short tons in 1996, according to data released today by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Spurred by a 5.5 percent increase in coal consumption at electric utilities, the largest coal-consuming sector, production increases were evident in all regions of the country. Coal production increased 31 million short tons in 1996 over 1995. More than 47 percent of that increase was concentrated in one State--Wyoming, the number one coal-producing State. Wyoming produced 278 million short tons in 1996; the second largest producing State, West Virginia, produced 170 million short tons. Coal production has increased almost 16 percent during the last decade, while the number of mines has decreased over 53 percent, according to EIA's Coal Industry Annual 1996. Other changes in the coal industry have been even more dramatic. Over the last decade, as smaller and less efficient mines have closed, active mines have become more productive. Productivity (expressed as short tons per miner per hour) has increased from 3.30 tons in 1987 to 5.69 tons in 1996. The Coal Industry Annual 1996 can be accessed immediately on EIA's World Wide Web Site (http://www.eia.doe.gov). The direct Internet address is: http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/coal/cia/cia.pdf. Published copies will be available in early December from the U.S. Government Printing Office, 202/512-1800, or through EIA's National Energy Information Center, 202/586-8800.
EIA Program Contact: Frederick Freme, 202/426-1152, frederick.freme@eia.doe.gov EIA Press Contact: Thomas Welch, 202/586-1178, thomas.welch@eia.doe.gov EIA-97-35 Contact:
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