Does anyone have any info on the coal companies?

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I asked this question a few months ago but never got an answer. I have searched for coal companies and only found one so far that even mentioned Y2K. And they only had one paragraph about it and was in refernce to their business systems. NOT their equepment and machinery needed to mine coal. If their ventilation, elevators, safety equepment and so forth doean't work then it won't matter if the trains continue to operate. They will be empty. About 40% of our electricity is produced by coal powered plants. Think about it. Thanks and God Bless.

-- Anonymous, March 30, 1999

Answers

Mr. Mike, in the past few months a couple of people besides yourself have asked about coal mining and processing, and also put some effort into researching any available sites. Unfortunately, their efforts to access any Y2K information in that area met with about the same success you report. I've tried myself in the past but many coal mining operations don't even have web sites. It appears there just isn't much data to be had (at least not online info) and we're going to be wondering until 2000 gets here.

If any readers live near coal mining or processing businesses, perhaps they could make a phone call to ask questions and then post any info here? It would be appreciated!

-- Anonymous, March 30, 1999


I searched the Thomas Register online; They list 66 companies under "coal". Not one has a web site; just contact information. I haven't the time today (or probably even this week) to start cold-calling them for info. If someone wants to pick up on this, check www.Thomasregister.com

Bruce

-- Anonymous, March 31, 1999


I did find an online link for the Knife River Corporation, a subsidiary of MDU. Besides dealing in construction materials, "The company also mines approximately 3.1 million tons of coal annually which is sold to electric generating stations in Montana and North Dakota under long-term contracts." See:

http://www.kniferiver.com/krc2.html

Knife River's Year 2000 link takes you to MDU's Year 2000 disclosure. Pertinent stats:

"As of December 31, 1998, the awareness and inventory phases, including assigning priorities to IT and non-IT systems, have been substantially completed." [I'm really getting to hate seeing that word "substantially". It's like a neon light blinking "NOT done".]

"The remediation, testing and implementation phases of the Company's year 2000 plan are currently in various stages of completion. ... the remediation phase at the construction materials and mining business is approximately 35 percent complete."

"The testing phase involves testing systems to confirm year 2000 readiness. ...the testing phase at the construction materials and mining business it is approximately 20 percent complete."

" The implementation phase is the process of moving a remediated item into production status. ... the implementation phase at the construction materials and mining business is approximately 35 percent complete. The Company has established a target date of October 1, 1999, to complete the remediation, testing and implementation phases."

"The estimated total incremental cost to the Company of the year 2000 issue is approximately $1 million to $3 million during the 1998 through 2000 time periods. As of December 31, 1998, the Company has incurred incremental costs of less than $300,000. "

MDU also has electric utilities and natural gas distribution subsidiaries, which are farther ahead in their Y2K project status than the coal mining section is. MDU's recent 10K SEC filing for year end 1998 also stated they began their Year 2000 project team in 1997.

Either they concentrated their efforts on the electric utility and natural gas side of the house, or their mining operation's project has been really slow getting off the ground. Thirty five percent done after over a year of work doesn't bode well for finishing the other 65% by 2000.

By the way, MDU's completion target date of Oct.1, 1999 is well beyond the majority of utility holding companies' estimated completion dates. Either they are being more honest in their projections by not giving the standard NERC target date (as so many did) or they are playing catch-up. There is one other possibility, come to think of it. While MDU does state that priorities were assigned during the inventory phase, unlike most other utility holding companies they do not specify they are working only on mission critical items. It may be that MDU's later estimated completion date is because the company is going for the gold and talking about finishing ALL their systems. There isn't enough info to pin this down, but I didn't want to slam their lack of progress when the possibility exists that they are actually doing a more complete job than some other utilities. [However, their costs spent to date argue against being ahead.]

-- Anonymous, March 31, 1999


I have reviewed a lot of EPRI powerpoint presentations on y2k testing and findings at fossil plants (mostly coal) by a several utilities - the findings mirror those of the nuclear industry, nothing was found that would directly cause a plant shutdown. Systems covered included Westinghouse WDPF systems, Foxboro control systems, environmental controls, stack emmision monitors, etc. As in the nuclear industry, most y2k bugs are minor and do not effect operation of the equipment.

Regards,

-- Anonymous, March 31, 1999


Great answer, Fact Finder. Unfortunately, you answered the wrong question. Mrmike asked about coal mining companies. I hope your attention to remediation details is sharper than your attention to threads :)

-- Anonymous, April 01, 1999


LOL wrong, you are so right. My skills including reading, vary depending on how long I have worked and how tired I am...tis not my first mistake, and will not be my last ...fortunately in y2k, we have several levels of reviews. Now if I can just get someone to review my posts before I send them out...:)

Regards,

-- Anonymous, April 01, 1999


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