Alpha Natural Resources is one of America's leading producers of coal, producing nearly 100 million tons of steam and metallurgical coal. Steam coal is primarily purchased by large utilities and industrial customers as fuel for electricity generation and manufacturing, and metallurgical coal is used primarily to make coke, a key component in the steel making process. We produce, process and sell steam and metallurgical coal from more than 60 active mines and 14 coal preparation plants located throughout Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Wyoming.
We are also actively involved in the purchase and resale of coal mined by others, the majority of which we blend with coal produced from our mines to create customized products for our customers. We are committed to the safety of our employees and we have earned numerous awards from organizations about our track record in this industry. Finally, we are committed to making sure we are good stewards of the environment while we manage our operations.