Alpha Natural Resources expects to idle a West Virginia coal mine that employs more than 400 workers.
In a press release, Alpha said it notified 439 workers Friday that it expects to idle Rockspring Development’s Camp Creek underground mine and processing plant in Wayne County.
Last week, Alpha cut 71 jobs at four mines in Kentucky and Virginia.
The Bristol, Virginia-based company attributes the cuts to weak demand for coal both in the U.S. and overseas, depressed prices and government regulations that are quote causing electric utilities to close existing coal-fired power plants and forego construction of new coal-fired capacity end quote.
Alpha chairman and CEO Kevin Crutchfield says that the actions are difficult but necessary to align production with reduced demand.
Alpha operates mines in West Virignia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Wyoming, supplying met coal to steel companies and thermal coal to power generators.