Steel Product Producers
Warrior to expand met coal mining after securing $46.8M federal land lease
Written by Kristen DiLandro
October 6, 2025
Warrior Met Coal has paid the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) $46.8 million in a lease sale of federal land it will use to expand its operations in Tuscaloosa County, Ala.
The parcels total ~14,050 acres of federal mineral estate, granting Warrior access to 53 million tons of metallurgical coal.
Met coal is a key component in blast furnace steelmaking. The electric-arc furnace (EAF) production method, which melts scrap or direct-reduced iron (DRI) and is growing in popularity, reduces the need for metallurgical coal.
Warrior reported annual production of 8.2 million short tons (st) in 2024, an 8.2% increase from 2023.
Federal land leases for mining are part of President Trump’s Executive Order 14154, Unleashing American Energy. Under the order, Trump encourages energy development on public land. Additionally, the order calls on federal agencies to remove prohibitive regulations that could stunt or delay development.
The federal government expects the new leases to generate revenue through federal royalties, rents, and Alabama state severance taxes, according to an update from the US Department of the Interior. The law mandates royalties from the leases be divided equally between the State of Alabama and the US Treasury.
Warrior did not reply to a request for comment.
Kristen DiLandro
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