COAL PRICE – Fording, Western Canadian set 2008 prices

CALGARY and VANCOUVER Two of Canada's coal producers have announced a large jump in metallurgical coal prices for 2008.

FORDING CANADIAN COAL TRUST (www.Fording.ca) of Calgary has settled contracts at US$275/tonne for all coal projects, compared with US$93/tonne in 2007.

Vancouver's WESTERN CANADIAN COAL (www.WesternCoal.com) has negotiated a majority of is 2008 coal year contracts for hard coking coal at an average above US$300/tonne, an increase of 365% over 2007. Low-volatile PCI coal prices are approximately US$248/tonne.