Greenbrier Minerals, a subsidiary of Coronado Global Resources, has announced plans to idle seven mining operations in southern West Virginia, eliminating 530 jobs, reported West Virginia MetroNews.
The company issued a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice that stated the layoffs would begin on April 14 and be permanent.
The company blamed the decision on “sustained weakness in the U.S. High-Vol markets.” It said that “if further economic offtake cannot be secured by the conclusion of the 60-day [WARN] notice period, the Logan Complex will be temporarily idled to minimize cash consumption while maintaining optionality should market conditions improve.
“We recognize the significant impact this action has on our highly skilled and much valued workforce, as well as on the communities that surround our Logan operations. Throughout the WARN period, we will continue to explore every commercially reasonable pathway to secure sales that could allow Logan to continue operating in some capacity in 2026. We are committed to communicating transparently with our employees, and to supporting them through this period.”
The operations impacted include: Toney Fork surface mine, Powellton #1 mine, Elk Lick loadout, Saunders prep plant, and Eagle No. 1 mine in Lorado; the Lower War Eagle #1 mine in Cyclone; and the Muddy Bridge mine in Davin.
The company said it would also lay off employees at its Rich Creek/Lyburn administrative offices in Lyburn.
The Greenbrier announcement comes days after Alliance Resource Partners confirmed that its Mettiki Mountain View operation in Tucker County will close its doors. All 199 employees of the coal operation were issued WARN notices with furloughs effective April 1.
Chairman, President and CEO Joseph Craft III stated that the mine, which has operated for nearly 50 years, faced a combination of issues contributing to its decision to idle.
“Unfortunately, a series of planned and unplanned outages at a key customer’s plant negatively impacted their demand and our shipments in 2025. We have recently been informed that the plant expects additional outages during 2026 and based upon current demand projections and contractual commitments for 2026, they are not in a position to commit to purchase any additional tons from Mettiki for the foreseeable future,” he said.
“Due to the location of the mine and the low-volatile quality of coal the mine produces, Mettiki’s livelihood depends on this customer purchasing a minimum of one million tons per year for it to be viable under its existing operating plan. With no clear alternative customer to absorb production, issuing WARN Act notices became an unavoidable step.”
Craft confirmed that Mettiki’s full-year coal sales and production volumes for 2025 were approximately 1.2 million tons, with 300,000 tons shipped to the export metallurgical market and the balance to the same key customer’s plant.
“Production will immediately cease, giving Mettiki time to evaluate its options concerning the mine’s future and the exact timing for permanent closure,” the producer added.