Contura Energy temporarily closing several Va. mines

Move is being made due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Published April 3, 2020 by Sydney Lake

The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) was notified Friday morning that Tennessee-based Contura Energy is temporarily closing nearly all of its coal mines in Virginia in response to coronavirus, DMME spokesperson Tarah Kesterson says.

Contura has affiliate mining operations in Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Its Virginia facilities including 88 Strip, Long Branch, Deep Mine 41, Deep Mine 44, No. 10, McClure River and Toms Creek. There was no information immediately available on how many employees are impacted by the closures.

The mines will keep small crews at each site for maintenance. The Deep Mine 41 and McClure River sites in Dickenson County and the Toms Creek plant in Wise County will remain open.

Contura will reevaluate whether to extend its closure on April 20, according to the DMME.

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