Kennecott Energy (KEC), one of the largets US coal producers wholly owns and operates four open cut coal mines in in the Powder River Basin of Montana and Wyoming, US, and has a 50 per cent interest in, but does not operate, the Decker mine in Montana. KEC also manages Rio Tinto's interest in Colowyo Coal in Colorado, US and in total employs approximately 1,675 people. All operations are surface mines using large dragline excavators. The coal is transported by haul trucks and conveyors to mine site plant facilities for crushing and grading before being moved to customers by rail and barge. Sales are to electricity producers in most regions of the US, a market that continues to grow due to the need for low sulphur coal to meet restrictions on sulphur emissions.