Belle Ayr Mine

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Belle Ayr
Location
Belle Ayr Mine is located in Wyoming
Belle Ayr Mine
Belle Ayr Mine
Location in Wyoming
StateWyoming
CountryUnited States
Coordinates44°06′09″N 105°25′07″W / 44.10250°N 105.41861°W / 44.10250; -105.41861Coordinates: 44°06′09″N 105°25′07″W / 44.10250°N 105.41861°W / 44.10250; -105.41861
Production
ProductsCoal
History
Opened1972
Closed2019
Owner
CompanyBlack Jewel LLC
Year of acquisition2017

The Belle Ayr mine is a coal mine located 18 miles southeast of Gillette, Wyoming in the United States in the coal-rich Powder River Basin. The mine is an open pit, "truck and shovel", mine producing a low-sulfur, sub-bituminous coal from the Wyodak-Anderson seam that is used for domestic energy generation. Coal produced by the mine is shipped to its customers via railroad. The mine is currently owned and operated by Blackjewel LLC after being acquired from in 2017.[1][2]

As of 2009, Belle Ayr had reserves of 406 mm tons of sub-bituminous coal and a maximum permitted production capacity of 45mm tons per year. Typical annual production has been in 26-28mm ton range for the last several years though. The average quality of the coal shipped from Belle Ayr is 8,550 BTU/lb, 0.33% Sulfur, 4.50% Ash, and 1.90% Sodium (of the ash). Train loading operations at the mine are done with a batch weigh bin system that is coupled to a "weigh-in-motion" track scale system. Silo capacity at the mine's rail loop, which can accommodate up to 5 unit trains, is 46,000 tons.[3] In 2008, the mine produced just over 28.7 million short tons of coal, making it the 7th-most productive coal mine in the United States.[4]

History[]

The Belle Ayr Mine began operations in 1972 and is the oldest, non-captive mine in the Powder River Basin. Since mining operations began, the mine has shipped over 574 million tons of coal to its customers.[5] The Belle Ayr mine has changed hands many times through mergers and sales. Previous owners include AMAX, Cyprus AMAX, RAG, and Foundation Coal.

In 2007, Belle Ayr was awarded a Director's Award from the Office of Surface Mining for its restoration work on , which winds its way through the Belle Ayr Mine property.[6]

On July 1, 2019 CEO Jeffery Hoop announced that Blackjewel LLC, the operator of Belle Ayr had filed for bankruptcy and closed the mine. According to the Casper Star-Tribune, court documents show that Blackjewel owes $500 million in liabilities, including $6 million to employees. This was after Blackjewel was denied $20 million in financing by the United Bank of West Virginia.[7]

Production[]

[8][9][10]

Year Coal Production (tons) Employees
2015 18,318,629[11] ?
2009 28,655,953 352
2008 28,707,982 328
2007 26,608,765 280
2006 24,593,035 256
2005 19,469,814 259
2004 18,688,358 259
2003 17,853,928 260
2002 17,452,455 235
2001 11,750,497 219
2000 11,750,497 249
1999 15,016,000 253
1998 17,885,338 280
1997 22,800,736 280
1996 19,970,300 261
1995 18,771,977 224
1994 18,361,866 239
1993 15,585,828 230
1992 13,007,761 233
1991 14,748,327 240
1990 15,524,782 241
1989 13,662,836 244
1988 13,295,487 275
1987 13,329,591 347
1986 12,145,894 361
1985 12,829,379 371
1984 13,379,844 381
1983 13,825,242 404
1982 14,800,000
1981 15,100,000
1980 15,900,000
1979 15,000,000
1978 17,800,000
1977 13,100,000
1976 7,100,000
1975 2,500,000
1974 2,700,000
1973 400,000
1972 100,000

References[]

  1. ^ "Alpha Natural Resources: Locations". Alpha Natural Resources website. Alpha Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 19 July 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
  2. ^ https://investors.conturaenergy.com/files/doc_news/2017/News-Release-Contura-PRB-Asset-Sale-Announcement-12.11.17.pdf
  3. ^ "Mine Guide" (PDF). BNSF website. BNSF. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-11-21. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
  4. ^ "Major U.S. Coal Mines, 2008". Energy Information Administration of the Department of Energy. September 2009. Archived from the original on 11 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
  5. ^ "UP: Belle Ayr Mine". Union Pacific website. Union Pacific. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
  6. ^ "Belle Ayr Mine Receives Reclamation Award". Business Wire. Business Wire. September 19, 2007. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  7. ^ "Two Wyoming coal mines close, idling 700 workers". The Hill. The Hill. July 2, 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  8. ^ "Belle Ayr Data". Wyoming Mining Association. June 13, 2010. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
  9. ^ "Powder River Basin Operations and Process Management" (PDF). Foundation Coal West. May 30, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2012. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
  10. ^ "MSHA Mine ID 4800732". Archived from the original on 24 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
  11. ^ http://www.eia.gov/coal/annual/pdf/table9.pdf


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