SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C.  20549



                                       FORM 8-K

                                    CURRENT REPORT


                  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
                                 Exchange Act of 1934



                   Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

                                   January 4, 1994


                                  ASHLAND COAL, INC.
                (Exact name or registrant as specified in its charter)



        Delaware                   1-9993                    61-0880012
    (State or other        Commission file number)        (I.R.S.Employer
    jurisdiction of                                      Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)             



           2205 Fifth Street Road, Huntington, West Virginia    25701
                (Address of principal executive offices)     (Zip Code)


 
                   P.O. Box 6300, Huntington, West Virginia     25771
                                 (Mailing Address)           (Zip Code)



         Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (304) 526-3333
1PAGE
<PAGE>






          Item 5.   Other Events.


          Extended Registration Statement

               Certain  holders of  Ashland Coal  common stock  acquired in
          connection  with the 1992 acquisition  by Ashland Coal of Dal-Tex
          Coal Corporation have elected to take advantage of the Company's 
          offer to maintain for an additional year the effectiveness of the
          shelf registration statement,  as amended, currently  registering
          such  holders' shares for public  offering.  In  addition, at the
          request  of certain  of  the selling  shareholders  named in  the
          registration statement, Ashland Coal has agreed to indemnify such
          selling shareholders  and  certain brokers,  dealers  and  agents
          acting  on their  behalf  against certain  liabilities under  the
          Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  Ashland Coal's obligation to
          maintain  the  current registration  would  have  expired on  the
          earlier  of the date all  registered shares were  sold or May 10,
          1994.    Instead, it  is  now anticipated  that  a post-effective
          amendment to  the current  registration statement reflecting  the
          extension  will  be  filed   with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
          Commission  after  May  10,  1994,  and that  Ashland  Coal  will
          maintain the effectiveness of the amended registration  statement
          for  a  one year  period commencing  on  the date  the Commission
          declares the amended registration statement effective.
2PAGE
<PAGE>






                                      SIGNATURES

               Pursuant to the requirements  of Section 13 or 15(d)  of the
          Securities Exchange Act of  1934, the registrant has  duly caused
          this  report to  be  signed on  its  behalf by  the  undersigned,
          thereunto duly authorized.


                                             ASHLAND COAL, INC.
                                             (Registrant)

                                             By:  /s/  Roy F. Layman       
                                                  Administrative Vice
                                                  President and Secretary


                                             Date:  January 4, 1994
3PAGE
<PAGE>

<PAGE>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ASHLAND COAL INC", "cik": "0000833890", "assigned-sic": "1221", "irs-number": "610880012", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-09993", "film-number": "94500380"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2205 FIFTH ST RD", "city": "HUNTINGTON", "state": "WV", "zip": "25701", "phone": "3045263333"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "PO BOX 6300", "city": "HUNTINGTON", "state": "WV", "zip": "25771"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C.  20549

                                       FORM 8-K

                                    CURRENT REPORT

                  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
                                 Exchange Act of 1934

                   Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

                                   January 4, 1994

                                  ASHLAND COAL, INC.
                (Exact name or registrant as specified in its charter)

        Delaware                   1-9993                    61-0880012
    (State or other        Commission file number)        (I.R.S.Employer
    jurisdiction of                                      Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)             

           2205 Fifth Street Road, Huntington, West Virginia    25701
                (Address of principal executive offices)     (Zip Code)

 
                   P.O. Box 6300, Huntington, West Virginia     25771
                                 (Mailing Address)           (Zip Code)

         Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (304) 526-3333
1PAGE
Item 5.   Other Events.

          Extended Registration Statement

               Certain  holders of  Ashland Coal  common stock  acquired in
          connection  with the 1992 acquisition  by Ashland Coal of Dal-Tex
          Coal Corporation have elected to take advantage of the Company's 
          offer to maintain for an additional year the effectiveness of the
          shelf registration statement,  as amended, currently  registering
          such  holders' shares for public  offering.  In  addition, at the
          request  of certain  of  the selling  shareholders  named in  the
          registration statement, Ashland Coal has agreed to indemnify such
          selling shareholders  and  certain brokers,  dealers  and  agents
          acting  on their  behalf  against certain  liabilities under  the
          Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  Ashland Coal's obligation to
          maintain  the  current registration  would  have  expired on  the
          earlier  of the date all  registered shares were  sold or May 10,
          1994.    Instead, it  is  now anticipated  that  a post-effective
          amendment to  the current  registration statement reflecting  the
          extension  will  be  filed   with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
          Commission  after  May  10,  1994,  and that  Ashland  Coal  will
          maintain the effectiveness of the amended registration  statement
          for  a  one year  period commencing  on  the date  the Commission
          declares the amended registration statement effective.
2PAGE
SIGNATURES

               Pursuant to the requirements  of Section 13 or 15(d)  of the
          Securities Exchange Act of  1934, the registrant has  duly caused
          this  report to  be  signed on  its  behalf by  the  undersigned,
          thereunto duly authorized.

                                             ASHLAND COAL, INC.
                                             (Registrant)

                                             By:  /s/  Roy F. Layman       
                                                  Administrative Vice
                                                  President and Secretary

                                             Date:  January 4, 1994
3PAGE