Starting in the late 1800s and continuing to the present day, one of the largest local industries has been the mining of steam coal.
32.
The richest source for steam coal was the Rhondda Valleys, and by 1856 the Taff Vale Railway had reached the heads of both valleys.
33.
The Coal Branch towns thrived from the arrival of the railroad until markets for steam coal declined as the railroads replaced steam locomotives with diesel.
34.
And low prices and tightening environmental controls through the 1990s discouraged investment in new steam coal mines in the United States, especially in Central Appalachia.
35.
From 1870 onwards, the demand for Rhondda steam coal was expanding quicker than the infrastructure of the Taff Vale Railway and Cardiff docks could provide.
36.
The Mechel Group comprises producers of coking coal, steam coal, iron ore in concentrate, steel, rolled steel, ferroalloys, high value added products, heat and electric power.
37.
A cottage hospital was built at Aberbargoed by the Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company in 1909 to provide hospital facilities for employees in the Rhymney Valley.
38.
Steam coal production is projected to reach around 5, 200 Mt / yr; coking coal 620 Mt / yr; and brown coal 1, 200 Mt / yr.
39.
Mitsui is expected to transfer its construction materials operations to the new venture, and Sumitomo is expected to transfer its steam coal business to a Mitsui-owned unit.
40.
The Alexo mine closed in 1955 due to declining markets for steam coal as the railroads replaced steam locomotives with diesel, and the town was eventually dismantled.
