Blaschak coal layoff... slower than expected coal sales

Finally, an actual confession.

Lehigh Taking business from these other guys is a blessing, I dont know how many of you noticed, BUT last year was the first year that coal prices rose SHARPLY, also last year was the first year for coal shortages, this was all due to LC&N going out of business. NOW, Lehigh Antracite is running full steam, and taking ALOT of coal from the other guys, this should mean eventually that the other guys might have to drop their prices to stay competative!

Heck nobody has ever hesitated blaming him before we both did it.

...because we know the more stupid the idea the more likely he will implement it, so why wait.

Low cost Natural Gas is playing a factor here.

Has to be.

turn up the heat! layoffs this time of year for any temporary workforce is the norm. most people that have been around long enough expect them and welcome them.

Blaschak had a very productive year as far as mining raw coal, more mine run on the ground than they can process right now, breaker ran 15 hours a day all summer as well as 12 hrs a day on sat, they deserve a break, right now there is coal everywhere but as the days get colder and the smaller breakers are out of coal there will be plenty at the larger operations to get through the winter, i know one local operation was out of rice last sat already SCRAPPER

Richard S. wrote:Low cost Natural Gas is playing a factor here.

If I had natural gas, I probably would not be messing with coal. Natural gas is very reasonable right now.

id have to agree with ya there steam up

su, as always the key words are "right now" how soon people forget me thinks. I'll just stick with my coal no matter what--I don't look at it as messing with--hell, it's an art form

freetown fred wrote:su, as always the key words are "right now" how soon people forget me thinks. I'll just stick with my coal no matter what--I don't look at it as messing with--hell, it's an art form

ill go along with you fred...the only thing wrong with lehigh is the 20 ton min...

Lets see--20 ton would last me over 6 yrs--hell, I'm not sellin it, I'm burnin it.

I wish the 26 plus tons I have purchased would have lasted me three years plus into the 4th. No such luck. Looks like I will be dipping into the 6 face cord of wood I have stockpiled for "just in case".

I am guessing maybe 9 ton last year between the two boilers and it was a mild year. The wood will stretch the coal through the winter of 2013-2104. I didn't plan on another TT load until late spring of 2014.

I may also burn up the 100 gallons of fuel oil I have left as it is getting 3 years old. I like to keep a few gallons on hand for backup.

If I had more money in the bank, It would go into coal instead.

steamup wrote:

Richard S. wrote:Low cost Natural Gas is playing a factor here.

If I had natural gas, I probably would not be messing with coal. Natural gas is very reasonable right now.

Tons of fracking equals super cheap natural gas in the short-run.

Davian wrote:

steamup wrote:

Richard S. wrote:Low cost Natural Gas is playing a factor here.

If I had natural gas, I probably would not be messing with coal. Natural gas is very reasonable right now.

Tons of fracking equals super cheap natural gas in the short-run.

Yes, but it appears the short run may last all of our lifetimes,