Massey Energy to Open Mammoth Mine

Massey Energy to Open Mammoth Mine

RICHMOND, Va., Dec 2, 2004 PRNewswire-FirstCall

Massey Energy Company (NYSE: MEE) today announced that it expects to begin production within the next several weeks at its Mammoth Coal Company operation in Kanawha County, West Virginia. The Mammoth assets were recently acquired at the Horizon Natural Resources Company bankruptcy court auction and were formerly operated as part of Cannelton Industries, Inc.

"We anticipate production of approximately 800,000 tons from this mine in 2005," said Don L. Blankenship, Massey Energy Chairman and CEO. "We are excited about the potential for low cost production from this mine, where we expect underground coal seams to average 7 to 9 feet and where the Company's barge loading facility will offer direct access to river transportation." Blankenship further noted that the Mammoth mining operation is contiguous to the Company's undeveloped Kanawha Energy property, which contains an estimated 50 million tons of coal reserves.

Mammoth start-up capital is expected to be less than $5 million. Previous projections made by Massey of 46 to 48 million tons of production in 2005, and capital spending of $330 million for 2004 and $275 million for 2005, did not include Mammoth Coal Company.

Massey Energy Company, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is the fourth largest coal company in the United States based on produced coal revenue.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: The foregoing release contains forward- looking statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect current analysis of existing information. Caution must be exercised in relying on forward- looking statements. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements can be found in press releases as well as Massey's public periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Massey's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 15, 2004 and subsequently filed interim reports. Such filings are available either publicly or upon request from Massey's Investor Relations Department: (866) 814-6512. Massey disclaims any intent or obligation to update its forward-looking statements. For further information, please call Massey Investor Relations (Katharine W. Kenny, 804-788-1824) or contact the Company via its website at http://www.masseyenergyco.com.

SOURCE Massey Energy Company

Katharine W. Kenny, Director, Investor Relations, of Massey Energy Company, +1-804-788-1824

http://www.masseyenergyco.com

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