CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Massey Energy Co. says it's started using a new southern West Virginia coal processing plant built to replace one destroyed by a fire.
The Richmond, Va.-based mine operator said Tuesday that it had started the Zigmond Processing plant in Logan County several days earlier. The plant had been scheduled to open in August, but was damaged in a second fire last June.
Massey says the plant can process up to 1,200 tons of coal an hour and can load 15,000 tons of coal aboard a train in four hours. The operation serves six Logan County mines that produce coal for steel manufacturers and electric power plants.
The plant's predecessor burned in August 2009.
