The newest cuts are being taken at the Ruby Energy complex in Mingo County, West Virginia; Rock Spring Development in Wayne County, West Virginia; and Sidney Coal’s Taylor Fork mine in Pike County, Kentucky, spokesman Steve Hawkins told Coal Age.
“The market for thermal coal in Central Appalachia has been shrinking,” he said, noting that there is a current market oversupply as well as unsold coal.
All of the terminations were effective November 21, including 22 of 150 workers at the Ruby Energy mine (where the company is shutting down a mining section) and one of 30 on payroll at the Delbarton preparation plant.
At Taylor Fork, 12 workers have been eliminated ahead of the mine’s idling. The operation will keep 36 individuals for an undetermined period to assist in clearing out equipment and closing the operation.
A portion of Rock Spring Development will is also being shut down, and Alpha will slice 25 of 250 jobs at that complex.
Some workers were being offered new positions at other Alpha mines, Hawkins noted, and no further closures to mines in its portfolio are planned at this time.
