Pinnacle Mining Co., Cliffs Natural Resources' wholly owned subsidiary, will call 100 employees back to work in early August at its Pinnacle and Green Ridge No. 1 mines, which produce metallurgical coal in Wyoming County, West Virginia.
The call-back was prompted by a slight improvement in orders and the "market expectations going forward," explained Cliffs via a press release. "We have shown some business improvement that warrants this announcement," said Jim Kosowski, district manager, public affairs of Cliffs. He also explained that at full capacity, the mines require about 500 workers each.
With the downturn in the steel industry that began late last year, Pinnacle Mining Co. was forced to cut back production accordingly. Back in April, Cliffs announced it was indefinitely idling the Green Ridge No. 1 mine, as well as reducing operations at the Pinnacle preparation plant and halting production at the Pinnacle mine for approximately two months. These actions resulted in the layoffs of approximately 290 employees.
Cliffs Natural Resources is an international mining and natural resources company and the largest producer of iron ore pellets in North America.