TIDMATC

RNS Number : 0683W

Atlantic Coal PLC

24 January 2012

Atlantic Coal plc / Index: AIM / Epic: ATC / Sector: Mining

Atlantic Coal plc ("Atlantic" or the "Company")

2011 production update

Atlantic Coal plc, the AIM listed open cast coal production and processing company with activities in Pennsylvania, USA, announces a production update for the 12 months ending 31 December 2011 from the Stockton Colliery ("Stockton"), its opencast anthracite operation in Pennsylvania.

During 2011 Atlantic mined 208,730 tons of run-of-mine coal ("ROM") (2010: 203.060) (against a targeted annual production of 300,000 tons of ROM for 2011) and removed 3,257,776 bank cubic yards ("BCY") of overburden (2010: 2,837,863). 233,241 ROM coal was washed (2010: 229,293) which produced 105,403 tons of clean coal (2010: 88,620). Sales for the year were 106,403 tons (2010: 97,349) at an average price of US$142.33 per ton (2010: $124.43). 23,149 tons of ROM coal is also held as stock (2010: 21,216).

As announced on 14 July 2011, the Company has experienced increasing mechanical problems with its DeMag H185 excavator and ceased its operation altogether from September 2011. The Company acquired a Komatsu PC2000 hydraulic excavator ("Komatsu") as a replacement in October 2011 and, since becoming operational, this has already had a positive effect on production which the Board anticipates will be further enhanced when the second Liebherr 9250 19-yard bucket hydraulic excavator ("Liebherr") becomes operational, scheduled to be in Q1 2012.

In addition, whilst the construction of the railroad diversion was completed in Q3 2011 on schedule, certain delays have occurred in the negotiations with operators regarding commissioning. These delays are reflected in a higher ratio of coal to overburden than Atlantic's mine plan had originally forecast. However the Board is confident that these discussions will progress positively and looks forward to updating shareholders at the appropriate time.

Production summary:

 
 Run-of-minel (tons)    Overburden      Production          Coal          Average       Revenue 
                        Removed (k)    Tonnage (tons)    Sales (tons)    Price (US$)      (US$) 
--------------------  -------------  ----------------  --------------  -------------  ----------- 
       208,730          3.257,776         100,139          106,403         142.33      14,196,884 
--------------------  -------------  ----------------  --------------  -------------  -----------

Atlantic Managing Director, Steve Best, said, "Whilst we had anticipated higher production figures from Stockton for 2011, we remain confident that, with the Komatsu already operational and a second Liebherr becoming operational in Q1 2012, we will see increased production for 2012 and indeed, both initial production and sales price figures for January 2012 look to be a large improvement on those achieved in January 2011.

**ENDS**

For further information on the Company, visit: www.atlanticcoal.com or contact:

 
 Steve Best         Atlantic Coal plc           Tel: 020 3328 5670 
 Nick Naylor        Allenby Capital Limited     Tel: 020 3328 5656 
 Alex Price         Allenby Capital Limited     Tel: 020 3328 5656 
 Peter Rose         FoxDavies                   Tel: 020 3463 5030 
 Simon Leathers     FoxDavies                   Tel: 020 3463 5010 
 Hugo de Salis      St Brides Media & Finance   Tel: 020 7236 1177 
                     Ltd 
 Elisabeth Cowell   St Brides Media & Finance   Tel: 020 7236 1177 
                     Ltd

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

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