January 16, 2018 - Jack Richardson, Warrior Met Coal’s chief operating officer, will be a keynote speaker at the Virginia Coal Energy Alliance’s (VCEA) 39th annual conference and expo, scheduled to be held at the MeadowView Conference Resort and Convention Center in Kingsport May 21-22. Richardson will headline the May 21 session.

The conference, for the most part, is a measuring stick for how the coal industry is doing.

Who is Jack Richardson?

Richardson, who has more than 38 years of experience in the coal industry, previously served as vice chairman and a director of the VCEA. Prior to that, he served as chairman of the Eastern Coal Council, which was later merged with two other coal entities in Virginia to form the VCEA. He served as VCEA vice chairman until his employment saw him relocate. 

Jack Richardson

What is Warrior Met Coal?

Warrior Met Coal is a leading producer and exporter of metallurgical coal for the global steel industry from its underground mines, located southwest of Birmingham, Ala., near Tuscaloosa. Those mines are 1,400 to 2,100 feet underground, making them some of the deepest vertical shaft coal mines in North America. Metallurgical coal mined there from the Blue Creek coal seam contains very low sulfur and has strong coking properties, making it ideally suited for steel makers. Warrior Met Coal’s operations serve markets in the United States, Europe, Asia and South America via convenient barge and rail access to the Port of Mobile. The company currently has the operational capacity to mine about 8 million tons of coal per year from more than 300 million tons of recoverable reserves.

What is the Virginia Coal and Energy Alliance’s annual conference about?

The VCEA annual conference is co-sponsored by Southern States Energy Board (SSEB). SSEB is a nonprofit interstate compact organization created in 1960 and established under Public Laws 87-563 and 92-440. The board’s mission is to enhance economic development and the quality of life in the South through innovations in energy and environmental policies, programs and technologies. Sixteen southern states and two territories comprise the membership of SSEB: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia and West Virginia. This conference attracts elected officials from several states.

Conference registration is now being accepted and limited exhibit space is available. The cost for exhibit space is $750, which includes registration for one person to attend all meeting functions and special activities planned for attendees. Interested persons are urged to call today to ensure the opportunity of showcasing their company or organization’s product or service at the annual conference.

The annual golf outing will be held May 21 at the Cattails Golf Course, which is conveniently located adjacent to the hotel. The annual fishing tournament will also be held May 21 in the Tri-Cities area.

For additional information, or to register, contact the Virginia Coal and Energy Alliance at (276) 889-2262 or (276) 889-4001, or send an email to: vcea@virginiacoalenergy.com or visit the VCEA website http://www.virginiacoalenergy.com/.