Alpha Affiliate to Hire 50 Workers for New Met Coal Mine
By Jim Ross
June 9, 2017 - An Alpha Natural Resources affiliate in West Virginia is ready to hire 50 people for a new metallurgical coal operation in Raleigh County and 30 more of openings at mines in Raleigh and Boone counties.
Alpha announced Thursday, June 8, that Marfork Coal Co. will open a new underground mine at Pettus. The Panther Eagle Mine could begin production as early as July. It has more than 8.8 million tons of met coal reserves, Alpha said.
To staff the operation, the company will hold several job fairs throughout June to hire for the positions of mine management, fire boss, electrician, equipment operator, dispatcher and other general labor. The events will also be used to fill the openings at other mines in the area, Alpha said.
The company has already run classified ads seeking experienced miners for Panther Eagle.
“Recent improvement in the market has created more demand for our coal, and strategically increasing production will help meet that need,” Charlie Bearse, vice president of operations, said in a news release.
Alpha operates 14 underground mines, six surface mine operations and nine preparation plants. The company expects to produce 14 million tons of coal in this year, with an estimated 110,000 coming from Panther Eagle Mine.
“We are thrilled to be bringing mining jobs back to our counties,” said Bearse. “When you have good jobs, it benefits the many businesses, schools and charities that rely on a strong local economy to serve their communities.”
While Alpha is looking to hire experienced miners, job fairs are open to all qualified candidates, including apprentice miners, contractors, or workers with skills from other industries that could transfer over to mining, the company said in its news release. Interested applicants are asked to bring their resumes to any of the following job fair locations between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.:
June 9, Independence Middle School, Coal City.
June 16, Country Inns and Suites, Beckley.
June 23, Sherman Elementary School, Comfort.
June 30, Sharon Dawes Elementary School, Miami.