Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. Announces Issuance of WARN Act Notice at Mettiki Coal (WV), LLC
January 29, 2026 - Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ: ARLP) ("ARLP" or the "Partnership") has announced that its subsidiary, Mettiki Coal (WV), LLC ("Mettiki"), issued Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification ("WARN") Act notices to all employees of Mettiki’s Mountain View Mine near Tucker County, West Virginia.
"Mettiki has a long operating history, having been part of ARLP and its predecessor entities for nearly 50 years," said Joseph W. Craft, III, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We recognize today’s announcement will affect families and communities that have supported this mine for generations, and that decision weighs heavily on us."
Craft continued, "Unfortunately, a series of planned and unplanned outages at a key customer’s plant negatively impacted their demand and our shipments in 2025. We have recently been informed that the plant expects additional outages during 2026 and based upon current demand projections and contractual commitments for 2026, they are not in a position to commit to purchase any additional tons from Mettiki for the foreseeable future. Due to the location of the mine and the low-volatile quality of coal the mine produces, Mettiki’s livelihood depends on this customer purchasing a minimum of one million tons per year for it to be viable under its existing operating plan. With no clear alternative customer to absorb production, issuing WARN Act notices became an unavoidable step. We remain committed to open communication with our employees and community partners as we move forward."
The Mettiki mine, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of ARLP, currently employs approximately two hundred employees. Mettiki’s full year coal sales and production volumes for 2025 was approximately 1.2 million tons, with 300 thousand tons shipped to the export metallurgical market and the balance to the key customer’s plant in question.
As of January 29, 2026, Mettiki expects to fulfill its existing contractual commitments, which are scheduled to conclude in March 2026, primarily from existing inventory. Production will immediately cease, giving Mettiki time to evaluate its options concerning the mine’s future and the exact timing for permanent closure. Mettiki employees not involved in the reduced production of coal will focus efforts on reclamation activities, as needed, throughout the Mountain View Mine.
The Partnership will reflect the anticipated impact of reduced sales volumes at Mettiki in its 2026 guidance, which is scheduled to be announced on February 2, 2026. For the year ended December 31, 2025, Segment Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures attributable to the operation was approximately $3.5 million. Additionally, the Partnership will evaluate any potential impairment related to this decision during the first quarter of 2026.
About Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.
ARLP is a diversified energy company that is currently the second largest coal producer in the eastern United States, supplying reliable, affordable energy domestically and internationally to major utilities, metallurgical and industrial users. ARLP also generates operating and royalty income from mineral interests it owns in strategic coal and oil & gas producing regions in the United States. In addition, ARLP is positioning itself as a reliable energy partner for the future by pursuing opportunities that support the growth and development of energy and related infrastructure.