MADISON, W.Va. — Alpha Natural Resources is closing a Boone County operation and cutting back at a prep plant there.
Company spokesperson Samantha Davison confirmed Friday 160 employees are losing their jobs. She said the demand and pricing for the coal that’s mined at the Justice #1 mine near Madison is very weak.
“In an effort to continue to adapt to the challenging conditions in the coal market, we had to make the tough decision to idle (the mine),” Davison said in an email.
Alpha is also cutting back on operations at its Liberty Coal Prep Plant.
Alpha plans to meet with all of the affected employees next week. Davison says some of them will have opportunities at other Alpha operations.
Davison says Friday’s announcement wasn’t an easy one to make.
“As you can imagine, shutting down a mine and sending good people home is the last thing we want to do,” she said.
Justice #1 produces metallurgical coal. Sixty employees will stay on to help close the operation. Alpha plans to keep the Liberty Prep Plant open with approximately 50 workers.
Alpha has 50 mining operations in 12 counties in West Virginia.