Drummond Coal Sales Inc. v. Kinder Morgan Operating LP “C”, 2021 WL 613748.
The issue addressed was whether the inability to meet the minimum tonnage shipping requirements were excused because of the impact of government environmental regulations.
Drummond Coal Sales Inc. (“Drummond”) and Kinder Morgan Operating LP “C” (“Kinder Morgan”) entered into a 10-year contract. Kinder Morgan agreed to allow Drummond to import coal through its Shipyard River Terminal (“Terminal”) in Charleston, South Carolina.
Drummond is stated to have committed to importing between 3, 111,111 and 4,000,000 tons of coal per year through the Terminal. In the event the minimum tonnage requirement was not met, shortfall payments to Kinder Morgan were required.