North American miner Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. announced that it has halted production of its wholly owned subsidiary, Pinnacle Mining Company LLC, at the company's Pinnacle Complex near Pineville, West Virginia. Production at the facility will remain shuttered through February 28th.
Cliffs representatives indicate that the original 2009 production plan for the Pinnacle Complex had called for the mines to produce approximately 85,000 tons of metallurgical coal in February. However, mine management met with local leadership from the United Mine Workers of America last week to notify them of the production cut. Approximately 360 workers will be affected.
"The month-long production curtailment at Pinnacle is necessary to balance our production and inventory with customer demand," Duke Vetor, senior vice president at Cliffs North American Coal, said in a statement.
The Pinnacle Complex includes the Pinnacle and Green Ridge No. 1 and Green Ridge No. 2 mines and the Pinnacle Preparation Plant. The Pinnacle and Green Ridge No. 1 mines have both halted production since Monday, while the Pinnacle Preparation Plant will continue to operate on a reduced schedule to fill customer requirements. Cliffs had already idled Green Ridge No. 2, and announced 100 layoffs in December. No. 2 will also remain idled for the month of February.
Cliffs operates iron ore mines in Michigan, Minnesota, Canada and Australia and coal mines in West Virginia and Alabama.