The Mountain Eagle
WHITESBURG WEATHER

Patriot Coal idles mine in W.Va.





CHARLESTON, W.Va.

Patriot Coal is idling a West Virginia mine due to high costs.

St. Louis-based Patriot said this week the closure of a companion surface mine slashed productivity and forced up costs at the remaining underground mine in its Jupiter Complex in Boone County. Patriot’s also blaming a shortage of skilled miners, increased federal safety inspections and difficult geology. The underground mine produced steam coal for sale to electric utilities.

Patriot says it plans to offer Jupiter miners jobs at mines it owns nearby. CEO Rick Whiting says that should help ease recent labor shortages.

Patriot operates mines in West Virginia and Kentucky. It was spun off by St. Louis-based Peabody Energy last November.


Leave a Reply