One of the largest coal producers in the Wyoming region has taken the tough decision to idle two out of three units at the Itmann mine. Core Natural Resources made the announcement that the site will temporarily halt production, keeping only one of the three units online. In the current state of the American economy, and the rise in inflation being felt across several sectors, not just in the United States, but all around the world as well, jobs are at a premium. Union activists have come out to state their concerns over the job cuts that halting production might cause.
Consol Energy’s merger with Arch Resources was supposed to create more employment
America, along with the rest of the world, is reeling from the disastrous state of the global economy. Everything is on the rise, especially in the United States. So when a large employer like Consol Energy makes an announcement that they will keep most of the Itmann site idling, the inevitable effect on the workers will be substantial, to say the least.
According to data from the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the site produced an astonishing 292,500 short tons (265,000t) of coal in the first half of this year. The company announced in August that it would be laying off around 200 coal miners in Wyoming County, which has not gone down well with the workers’ unions, which we must remember play a crucial role in securing and safeguarding workers’ rights.
While not representing the workers at the Itmann site, the United Mine Workers of America did make a statement on the matter.
“While the Itmann Mine #5 and Preparation Plant are not represented by the UMWA, we are always concerned when coal miners and their families face job loss. The announcement that more than 200 workers are impacted is unfortunate news for those affected and their communities. No one who works hard to provide for their family and power our nation should be left without support. We hate to see anyone in the mining community lose their job, and our thoughts are with those affected. We hope Core Natural Resources will do everything possible to support its workforce during this time,” – UMWA Communications Director, Erin Bates.
With Itmann idling, and Leer South still offline, what does the future have in store for Core Natural Resources
West Virginia is a crucial location for the company. Yes, the news of the idling of the Itmann site is a concern, but we would be remiss if we did not mention that the Leer South site remains offline as well. It is seen as one of the company’s most valuable assets, producing 500,000-800,000 st/quarter of high-volatile coking coal.
The mining company chose to halt operations at Itmann following a devastating fire that damaged crucial infrastructure in January. They stated at the time that they hoped to reopen the site in the summer; however, workers sealed the site after detecting high levels of carbon monoxide inside. Will the site be able to reopen in the near future, or will Core Natural Resources opt to lease the site for another energy company to step in?
US coal still plays an integral role in the American energy sector for a long time to come
Following the news of the idling of the Itmann site and the disheartening reports of the Leer South mine remaining offline, one would suspect the coal industry in the United States is under threat. Not if the current administration has anything to say about it. The Trump administration has signed several executive orders that aim to reinvigorate the coal sector. Several coal sites have seen their lease being auctioned off, with several more to come. Coal remains as part of the American identity as McDonald’s.
