Coal news and updates

Alpha Natural Resources looks to sell more coal mines through bankruptcy process

Alpha Natural Resources has added seven active Central Appalachian coal complexes to a list of assets it is trying to sell through Chapter 11 bankruptcy organization, court documents show.

The US coal producer on Monday amended its list of assets for sale in an already court-approved bidding procedure. The complexes Alpha had originally proposed to sell were comprised of closed or closing mines, but 14 of the 15 mines at the seven West Virginia and Kentucky complexes added to the list are currently active.

Added to Alpha's list of assets for sale in West Virginia are the Bandmill complex (Highlands surface and highwall mine, Hernshaw mine, Cedar Grove No. 2), the Delbarton complex (Kielty mine), the Inman/Admiral complex (Black Castle surface and highwall mine, Randolph/Inman mine), the Mammoth complex (Empire Surface mine, Laurel Coalburg mine, Republic surface and highwall mines, Slabcamp Stockton mine) and the Litwar complex (Horse Creek No. 1 mine, Lower War Eagle mine).

Kentucky additions to the list include the Sidney complex (Process Energy mine) and Roxana complex (EMC No. 9 mine).

Alpha said in the court filing that it could add more assets for sale to the list, which it noted "remains subject to further modification."

The producer first amended its original list of assets for sale on November 23, when it added the closed Superior Mine in West Virginia.

In Alpha's original list of assets for sale, only five mines produced coal this year -- the Edwight Surface, Rock Springs (Camp Creek), Twilight Surface and Superior Surface mines in West Virginia, and the Tiller No. 1 mine in Virginia.

Also included in the original list of assets for sale were the Mountaineer, Cucumber, Grassy Creek No. 1, Hominy Creek, Revolution, Twin Star and No. 9 Surface mines in West Virginia; Coalgood Surface (Right Fork Splint), Voyager 7, White Cabin 7 and White Cabin 9 mines in Kentucky; and Mine 43 in Tennessee along with the Rawl coal reserves in Mingo County, West Virginia, and the Wabash reserves in Wabash and Edwards counties in Illinois.

The company has set a bidding deadline for its assets of January 20, with an auction date, if necessary, of January 27.

source: http://www.platts.com