Belle Ayr Mine

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 owned and operated by Blackjewel LLC after being acquired from Contura energy in 2017.[1][2]

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
Production
ProductsCoal
History
Opened1972
Closed2019
Owner
CompanyBlack Jewel LLC
Year of acquisition2017

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 Caballo Creek, 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]

YearCoal Production (tons)Employees
201518,318,629[11] ?
200928,655,953352
200828,707,982328
200726,608,765280
200624,593,035256
200519,469,814259
200418,688,358259
200317,853,928260
200217,452,455235
200111,750,497219
200011,750,497249
199915,016,000253
199817,885,338280
199722,800,736280
199619,970,300261
199518,771,977224
199418,361,866239
199315,585,828230
199213,007,761233
199114,748,327240
199015,524,782241
198913,662,836244
198813,295,487275
198713,329,591347
198612,145,894361
198512,829,379371
198413,379,844381
198313,825,242404
198214,800,000
198115,100,000
198015,900,000
197915,000,000
197817,800,000
197713,100,000
19767,100,000
19752,500,000
19742,700,000
1973400,000
1972100,000

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. News release. Asset sale announcement investors.conturaenergy.com 2017
  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. 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. Table 9. Major U.S. Coal Mines, 2021 eia.gov


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