Mechel restarts some southern W.Va. operations
Russian mine owner Mechel restarts some operations in southern W.Va. as coal stockpiles shrink
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Russian mining company Mechel OAO says it's resuming some of its southern West Virginia operations.
In October, the Mechel Bluestone subsidiary cited high inventories and a sluggish market in suspending work and laying off an unspecified number of employees at its Keystone, Justice Energy and Dynamic Energy mining complexes.
On Thursday, it said coal inventories have been shrinking, so it's decided to resume open pit mining at the Justice and Dynamic Energy complexes.
Mechel says it will resume mining at other facilities when market conditions improve.
It hasn't said how many workers remain laid off.
Moscow-based Mechel operates mines, metal refineries and power plants in Russia, Kazakhstan, the United States, Romania, Bulgaria and Lithuania.
It bought Bluestone in 2009 from the owner of The Greenbrier, Jim Justice.
