CONSOL Energy Inc., the leading diversified fuel producer in the Eastern U.S., is providing an operations update for the quarter ended December 31, 2011.

"Once again, CONSOL's mines and gas operations ran well during the quarter," commented J. Brett Harvey, chairman and chief executive officer. "In fact, we closed the year with our best December safety performance in recent years. We're looking to carry that momentum into 2012."

CONSOL's Coal Division produced 15.3 million tons for the quarter, including 1.4 million tons of low-vol metallurgical coal from the company's Buchanan ...