Usibelli stops coal exports on low prices

Alaska’s Usibelii coal mine is to stop exports for the remainder of the year, according to a report from Alaska Dispatch News. The mine will temporarily close its coal loading facility in Seward, officials from the Usibelli and its subsidiary, Aurora Energy Services, said, on the back of low coal prices and weak demand.

Exports have slowed over the past year with the number of employees falling to just eight at the loading facility. There will now be further layoffs as only a small crew will be retained to maintain the plant over winter.

Usibelli will continue to supply coal to Alaska’s seven coal-fired power plants and no redundancies anticipated at the mine. Usibelli is Alaska’s only operating coal mine and produces over 2 million tpa, according to its website. In 2014, it exported 513 000 short t of coal – down 57% from its 2011 peak of 1.2 million short t.

Edited by Jonathan Rowland.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/mining/23092015/usibelli-coal-mine-stops-coal-exports-on-low-prices-2898/