Massey says new W.Va. coal prep plant should be finished by August

Massey says prep plant nearing completion

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Massey Energy says it’s almost finished building the replacement for a West Virginia coal processing plant that burned last August.

Virginia-based Massey says the new plant should be fully operational by September. The Logan County operation will be renamed Zigmond Processing after retired director Richard Zigmond.

Massey says the new plant will employ more than 480 people and process coal from six mines. The company didn’t say Wednesday whether they will be union workers. The former Bandmill processing plant was one of the few Massey operations with employees represented by the United Mine Workers.

A union spokesman didn’t immediately respond to a call for comment.

Massey owns the Upper Big Branch mine, where 29 men were killed in an explosion April 5.