Metzroth and Blumenfeld Promoted to New Posts at Arch Coal

ST. LOUIS, March 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Arch Coal, Inc.

today announced that Lawrence Metzroth has been named vice president of business development and market intelligence for Arch Coal Asia-Pacific Pte. Ltd., and Andrew Blumenfeld has been named Arch's vice president of analysis and strategy.

In his new position, Metzroth will be responsible for assisting in Asia-Pacific business and market development activities, including coal sourcing initiatives, market and acquisition analysis and strategic planning. He will relocate to Singapore and report to Renato Paladino, president of Arch Coal Asia-Pacific.

'Larry has a deep understanding of world energy and steel markets, a well-established global intelligence network and great technical expertise,' said Paladino. 'We expect him to play a key leadership role in our ongoing efforts to expand Arch's participation in the high-growth Asia-Pacific markets.'

Blumenfeld will replace Metzroth as vice president of analysis and strategy for Arch Coal and will be responsible for providing Arch with domestic and international energy market intelligence and analysis. He will report to the senior vice president of strategic development, Henry Besten, in the corporate office in St. Louis.

'Andy is widely regarded as one of the coal industry's foremost market analysts,' said Besten. 'We will look to Andy and his team to help Arch identify and seize new market opportunities as demand for both metallurgical and thermal coal continues to surge around the world.'

In 2006, Metzroth joined Arch Coal as vice president of analysis and strategy. He has 25 years of experience in strategic analysis for the energy industry, and has served as vice president for Global Energy Decisions; principal administrator for a division of the International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris; and principal and senior economist for Resource Data International (RDI). Metzroth earned a master of arts degree in business administration from the University of Illinois, and a bachelor of science degree in economics from Bradley University. He also completed the NARUC Rate Base Utility Economics Program at Michigan State University.

Blumenfeld joined predecessor company Arch Mineral Corporation in 1986. In 1995, he became a senior coal consultant for Resource Data International in Boulder, Colo. In 1997, Blumenfeld returned to Arch Coal as vice president of market research for Arch Coal Sales. Blumenfeld received an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis in 1987, and a bachelor of science degree in geology from Denison University in 1982.

U.S.-based Arch Coal, Inc.

is a top five global coal producer and marketer, with 155 million tons of coal sold in 2011. Arch is the most diversified American coal company, with more than 20 active mining complexes across every major U.S. coal supply basin. Its core business is supplying cleaner-burning, low-sulfur thermal and metallurgical coal to power generators and steel manufacturers on four continents. In 2011, Arch continued to lead the U.S. coal industry in safety performance and environmental compliance among large, diversified producers.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains 'forward-looking statements' - that is, statements related to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as 'expects,' 'anticipates,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'believes,' 'seeks,' or 'will.' Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. For us, particular uncertainties arise from changes in the demand for our coal by the domestic electric generation industry; from legislation and regulations relating to the Clean Air Act and other environmental initiatives; from operational, geological, permit, labor and weather-related factors; from fluctuations in the amount of cash we generate from operations; from future integration of acquired businesses; and from numerous other matters of national, regional and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive or regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. For a description of some of the risks and uncertainties that may affect our future results, you should see the risk factors described from time to time in the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Arch Coal, Inc.

CONTACT: Kim Link of Arch Coal, Inc., +1-314-994-2936

Web site: http://www.archcoal.com/