Purchase Offer for Closed Wyoming, West Virginia Coal Mines

GILLETTE, WY. (AP) — Two coal mines in Wyoming and one in West Virginia owned by a company in bankruptcy could reopen if a judge approves a purchase offer.

Court documents show Bristol, Tennessee-based Contura Energy has offered $20.6 million for the mines owned by Milton, West Viginia-based Blackjewel LLC. The mines have been closed since Blackjewel filed for bankruptcy July 1.

The Casper Star-Tribune reports Blackjewel seeks an emergency court hearing Thursday on the proposed purchase before a federal bankruptcy judge in Charleston, West Virginia.

The purchase could put up to 700 employees back to work at the Eagle Butte and Belle Ayr mines in Wyoming and Pax Surface Mine in West Virginia.

Contura sold the Wyoming mines to Blackjewel in 2017. They were the among the top-producing coal mines in the U.S.

___

Information from: Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, http://www.trib.com