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Associated Press - July 28, 2010 2:55 PM ET
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Massey Energy plans to build a new entrance and resume extracting coal from the Upper Big Branch mine within months, despite the continuing investigation of the explosion that killed 29 men in April.
Chief Executive Don Blankenship says Massey has the necessary permits and should reach the Eagle coal seam within six months. Blankenship told analysts Wednesday that production would start at perhaps 20,000 tons a month and grow.
Massey also wants government permission to restart two sections in the far southern reaches of the Raleigh County mine. That area was untouched by the blast and Blankenship estimates it could produce 600,000 tons annually.
Massey has been scrambling to replace Upper Big Branch's high-priced metallurgical coal - a key ingredient in steel manufacturing.
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