America West Resources Inc. said it has signed two contracts to sell more than $200 million worth of coal from its Horizon mine north of Price.

The Salt Lake City-based company said last week that it signed the agreement to supply coal to an unnamed energy group from China, shipped through an unnamed, northwestern U.S. port where it is leasing storage and terminal space.

On Tuesday, it announced the signing of an eight-month, $7.4 million deal to deliver coal to a West Coast utility, which also was not identified.

"Global demand for our compliant coal has been increasingly robust," said America West Chief Executive Dan Baker. "America West is working diligently toward re-establishing mining operations in two pillar sections at Horizon, with a goal of expanding to three sections by the end of this year and significantly increasing production."

He added that leasing of a coal terminal "represents an important logistical milestone for the company" and will help it pursue more business in China, which relies on coal for 70 percent of its electrical production.

America West did not respond to requests to identify the export terminal.

Horizon mine produced 193,674 tons of coal in 2009, down by roughly 30,000 tons from each of the two previous years. It had roughly 90 employees at year's end, according to federal Mine Safety and Health Administration records.

The mine was one of three in Utah subjected to extra inspections last month by MSHA because of its violation history. Mine officials said safety conditions have improved at Horizon.

The surprise weekend inspections followed an April 5 explosion that claimed 29 lives in the Upper Big Branch coal mine in West Virginia.