Petroleum giant Chevron Corp. says it will get out of the coal industry.

Chevron Mining spokeswoman Margaret Lejuste said Friday new coal technologies are too far off to make staying in coal a good strategy.

Lejuste tells The Associated Press that Chevron began seeking a buyer last week for its open pit mine outside Kemmerer in western Wyoming.

Chevron is close to closing a deal with Tampa, Fla.-based Walter Energy to sell its North River underground mine in western Alabama.

Lejuste also says Chevron may look to sell reclaimed land from a New Mexico surface coal operation that has been closed since 2009.

The three mines produced nearly 10 million tons of coal in 2009.