US coal producers say export capacity is limited

North Antelope Rochelle mine. (Image courtesy of Peabody Energy .)

US coal producers said on Thursday they only have limited ability to boost exports and offset lost Russian volumes due to chronic industry underinvestment amid the clean energy transition.

“The ability for the supply side to respond is tough,” Jim Grech, chief executive of Peabody Energy Corp, said at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston.

Paul Vining, chairman of privately-held Westmoreland Mining LLC, said US coal exports this year should be slightly higher than last year’s 72 million tonnes, but be constrained from further growth due to staffing constraints and limited rail capacity.

(By Arathy Somasekhar and Ernest Scheyder)

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