BLM is set to auction off two Warrior Met coal tracks on 30 September 2025. And the sector is licking its lips at the opportunities that the sale presents. The auction supports the current administration’s efforts to reinvigorate the coal sector in the United States. When Donald Trump ran for the Presidency for the second time, he made several campaign promises, claiming that he would implement measures and sign executive orders aimed at revitalizing the sector and put the average American worker first, and to his credit, his administration has delivered on those promises.
Warrior Met Coal Company is looking to increase its footprint in the Tuscaloosa County region
If Warrior Met Coal is able to win the bidding war that is due to take place, that is. They already have a strong presence in the region and are hoping to increase their presence to expand operations. The US Department of the Interior has announced that it is progressing with its plans to lease three sites in Alabama, Montana, and Utah this fall.
Current estimations state the coal bed will have a 21-year lifespan, while employing approximately 425 employees annually. Which could only benefit the workers in the Tuscaloosa County region, which has seen an uptick in energy production in recent years, bolstered by the current administration’s efforts to increase American energy production across several sectors. The U.S. Department of the Interior released a press statement outlining its auction plans.
“The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), will offer two lease areas covering about 14,050 acres beneath private lands in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The tracts contain an estimated 53 million tons of recoverable metallurgical coal, used in steelmaking and designated as a critical material under the Energy Act of 2020. The sealed-bid sale will be held at 9:00 a.m. CDT, Sept. 30, at the BLM Eastern States State Office in Falls Church, Va.” – U.S. Department of the Interior press release
Warrior Met Coal has submitted several applications for the leases
It would appear that Warrior Met Coal is determined to acquire a stronger foothold in the Tuscaloosa County region, among a long list of potential buyers; its subsidiaries have submitted several applications to purchase the lease. Among those subsidiaries are:
- Warrior Met Coal Inc
- Warrior Met Coal Mining LLC
- Warrior Met Coal BC, LLC
If the company is able to win the bidding war, it will build a $1.3 billion nine-mile conveyor belt from the Fayette-Walker County line to primarily get the coal out. And we struggle to see anyone else beating them to the punch and acquiring the leases. Winning the bidding war will expand operations of Warrior Met Coal’s Mine No. 4 and an 8,346-acre plot to expand its Blue Creek Mine No. 1. The sector has seen consistent returns year-on-year.
“These sales reflect the Trump administration’s commitment to strengthening American Energy Dominance, supporting local economies and securing a stable supply of critical resources for the nation’s economy. By moving forward with these lease sales, we are creating good-paying jobs, supporting local communities, and securing the resources that keep America strong. President Trump’s leadership is putting American workers first and ensuring our nation’s energy future is built on reliable, homegrown resources,” – U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum
The Trump administration is delivering on its campaign promises
Now that is a statement that few in America would have expected. But it is true, to a certain degree. Trump has certainly delivered on his promise to revitalize America’s fledgling energy sector by signing several executive orders into law. With the offshore operations taking up most of the world‘s unwanted attention, the upstream sector could only benefit from the increased production that would occur if Warrior Met Coal wins the bidding due to take place at the end of the month.