Patriot Coal has closed its Highland and Dodge Hill mines in Kentucky. The operations employed about 670 people and produced almost 4 million short t of thermal coal in 2013. The associated Heritage preparation plant will continue to operate until inventories are depleted.
The company is in talks to sell the Highland mine and Heritage preparation plant with a deal expected in the first half of the year. It is also in separate talks with Alliance Resources Partners to sell other west Kentucky coal assets and coal supply agreements.
Written by Jonathan Rowland.