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posted by Fnord666 on Thursday May 16 2019, @02:34PM   Printer-friendly
from the not-a-coalition dept.

Submitted via IRC for Bytram

Fourth-largest coal producer in the US files for bankruptcy

Cloud Peak Energy, the US' fourth-largest coal mining company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy late last week as the company missed an extension deadline to make a $1.8 million loan payment.

In a statement, Cloud Peak said it will continue to operate its three massive coal mines in Wyoming and Montana while it goes through the restructuring process. Colin Marshall, the president and CEO of the company, said that he believed a sale of the company's assets "will provide the best opportunity to maximize value for Cloud Peak Energy."

Cloud Peak was one of the few major coal producers who escaped the significant coal industry downturn between 2015 and 2016. That bought it a reputation for prudence and business acumen.

But thinning margins have strained the mining company as customers for thermal coal continue to dry up. Coal-fired electricity is expected to fall this summer, even though summer months are usually boom times for coal plants as air conditioning bolsters electricity demand. That's because cheap natural gas and a boost in renewable capacity have displaced dirtier, more expensive coal.


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  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 16 2019, @06:33PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 16 2019, @06:33PM (#844394)

    The free market would have shuttered those mines decades ago. The only thing keeping them in business has been subsidies and measures that make it harder for renewables to compete.

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