SCOTTSBORO — MetWave Mining has launched a major metallurgical coal prospecting initiative on a 5,800-plus-acre site in the Flat Rock area of Jackson County — a move that supports jobs, honors Alabama’s legacy in American industry, and aligns with current federal energy priorities, according to a news release from MetWave..
With Alabama-based firms McGehee Engineering and Keller Logging and regional company Contract Highwall Mining involved, this effort is as local as it is national, MetWave said. It also marks a significant step in the region’s economic development and industrial relevance.
Containing millions of tons of high-grade metallurgical coal, the site serves as a strategic feedstock for PJKT 72’s microwave plasma conversion technology and the underlying asset for the MetWave Token and a supply source for steel manufacturing in 2026
This initiative is being led on-site by MetWave, a mining and operations company wholly owned by PJKT 72, its sole member, and positions Alabama as a key player in America’s industrial resurgence – supplying critical fuel for steelmaking, strengthening domestic supply chains, and supporting high-paying jobs across the region, according to the news release.
Focused on sustainable mining practices while delivering high-quality materials that power industries across world, PJKT 72 said it is pioneering novel blockchain financial vehicles for supply chain and Environmental, Social, and Governance investors.
As part of Phase One, MetWave has authorized Contract Highwall Mining to file a prospecting permit with the state of Alabama, marking the first formal step toward full-scale development of one of the Southeast’s most valuable metallurgical coal reserves, the news release said.
“This is about American energy, American steel, and American jobs,” said MetWave CEO David Mitchell. “We’re proud to do our part right here in Alabama.”
Contract Highwall Mining said it has engaged Jasper-based McGehee Engineering to complete geological mapping, permitting coordination, and all technical documentation required by the state to begin exploration.
To ensure “lawful and cooperative access to the subsurface mineral estate,” MetWave Mining said it is working with Keller Logging, the surface owner of the land.
Under the leadership of new CEO Allen Keller, Stevenson-based Keller Logging has provided reasonable access across the property – in accordance with Alabama law, which grants mineral rights holders access to their resources.
The 5,888-acre site is estimated to hold between 34 million and 50 million tons of premium metallurgical coal – a key input for global steel production, the news release said. This prospecting effort will validate existing geological models and inform future mine development and operations.
As part of its broader commitment to accountable energy development, PJKT 72 said it is advancing a pioneering blockchain-based ESG platform to digitally verify the carbon content, ownership, and lifecycle of its coal reserves.
The Coal Mitigation Verification Initiative ensures transparency, enables credible ESG reporting, and lays the groundwork for future carbon credit compatibility – helping to position Alabama as a leader in clean, traceable American energy production.
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