United Coal Company represents the North American interests of Metinvest.
UCC was formed by private investors (including James McGlothlin who was one of the founders of the original United Coal Company in the 1970s), and grew through acquisitions of metallurgical coal producers.
UCC puts safety, compliance, and the environment ahead of everything. The company’s injury rate and violation rate has consistently been under the national average and among industry best. UCC continues to achieve environmental excellence across all subsidiaries and receives reclamation awards for this stewardship.
UCC has grown to be one of the leading producers of metallurgical coal in the United States. Production capacities of UCC’s three operating business units average 3 mln metric tons annually, with the ability to increase production to over 4 mln metric tons with current prep plant infrastructure. UCC mines mostly metallurgical coal with some steam using both underground and surface mining techniques in the states of West Virginia, Virginia, and Kentucky.
In 2009, UCC became the North American subsidiary of Metinvest, an international, vertically integrated mining and steel group of 24 industrial companies leading the mining and steel industry of Ukraine and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Metinvest uses a blend of different coals, including Ukrainian, Russian, and US coal to produce coke for the production of their steel products. Ukrainian and Russian coals are generally less expensive and lower-quality. US coals, which are more expensive, are used to increase the coal blend quality.
Since the acquisition, UCC continues to invest into its assets. Key projects have included rehabilitating and restarting production at Affinity Mining Complex, as well as upgrading several of its preparation plants and loadouts.
UCC continues to focus on reducing costs to remain competitive in the US met coal market. Despite operating in thin seam mines, UCC’s mines maintain incremental operating costs below sales prices.
At UCC, we see new challenges as new opportunities that emerge in ever-changing national and global economies. We have a bold vision for the future, and our company is well positioned to meet the rising demand for met coal amid unprecedented growth in global steel production.