For Additional Information:
John Grasser (202) 463-2651
Karen Batra (202) 463-2651

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2000

MINEXPO INTERNATIONAL 2000® SHOWCASES MINING'S FUTURE: LARGEST MINEXPO® EVER UNITES MINING INDUSTRY

LAS VEGAS, N.V. -- MINExpo INTERNATIONAL 2000, the mining industry's preeminent and most comprehensive trade show in the world, opened today at the Las Vegas Convention Center with over 1,300 exhibitors putting on display nearly 600,000 square feet of state-of-the-art mining equipment, products and services from around the globe. Today's ribbon-cutting ceremony officially marked the opening of the largest MINExpo ever, with over 25,600 mining industry personnel pre-registered and as many as 15,000 more attendees expected to register on-site.

"MINExpo 2000 showcases everything that mining is proudest of -- the innovations and technological advances that truly make the mining industry an industry of the future," said NMA President & Chief Executive Officer Richard L. Lawson. "This is the largest premier mining exposition in the world, and this year's record-setting exhibit space sales make this the biggest and best MINExpo ever."

"MINExpo 2000 reflects the worldwide scope and technological advances of the world's mining industry," said MINExpo INTERNATIONAL Chairman Glen A. Barton, chairman & chief executive officer of Caterpillar Inc. "This is evidenced by the large number of international visitors, including representatives of the World Mining Congress, who will be attending MINExpo, and also by the displays and exhibits that will remind our attendees just how technologically advanced the mining industry is - and even more important - how far we have advanced in the last four years," said Barton.

"Many of these products, equipment and technologies result from cooperation and consultation between exhibitor-manufacturers and producers to ensure that mines are safer, more productive and more competitive, while minimizing their long-term environmental impact," said Steven F. Leer, NMA chairman and president & CEO of Arch Coal Inc.

Over the next four days, tens of thousands of mining professionals from around the world will tour the enormous exhibit areas filled with the most modern and up-to-date mining equipment, machinery, products, technologies, and services for the coal, metal and industrial minerals mining and processing industries. Attendees will also participate in 23 separate education sessions covering topics such as underground mining and development for coal and hardrock, reclamation, minerals processing, water and air quality, surface mining, bulk materials handling, safety and health, exploration and more, with presentations by experts from around the world just a few steps away from the MINExpo exhibit floor.

The XVIII World Mining Congress, representing 48 countries, will also meet in conjunction with MINExpo INTERNATIONAL 2000, and will host four additional sessions on coal techniques, mining technologies, world mining policies, and world aspects of mining.

Anyone interested in learning more about MINExpo can visit the MINExpo Virtual Trade Show (VTS) website. MINExpo's VTS offers up-to-date information on exhibitors, educational sessions, and more. Users are able to search on-line for exhibitors by company name and product categories, and some exhibitor listings have a direct link to company web sites. Users can also scroll through exhibitors within a particular product category with over 150 categories to choose from. The VTS also has a "Personal Planner" feature that enables the user to scroll through a list of MINExpo exhibitors and education sessions and select specific items of interest to add to the user's calendar or "planner."

The Virtual Trade Show is accessible by logging on to the MINExpo web site (www.minexpo.com) and clicking on the "virtual trade show" link.

The U.S. mining industry produces coal, metals, building materials, and many other essential minerals that define the daily lives of 267 million Americans. The mining industry generates over $500 billion in total economic benefit each year and helps to sustain nearly 5 million U.S. jobs.