Associated Press Published

Idle No More, Monongalia County Mine will Reopen Monday

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Murray Energy Corp.’s Monongalia County Coal Company has announced its Monongalia County Mine will resume underground mining operations.

The Dominion Post reports the company made the announcement Friday. The mine, which was formerly Blacksville No. 2, will begin operating on a partial production basis on Monday.

The company says salaried and hourly employees will be brought back to work on an as-needed basis with the hope of achieving full operating status by Aug. 31, but with fewer employees.

The Monongalia County Mine had been idled since March 31. On May 22, Murray announced that it would eliminate jobs or lay off employees at its five area mines, along with mines in Ohio and Illinois.

Murray attributed the layoffs to increased use of natural gas to generate electricity.