By Kate Davison

May 5, 2016 - NEWS9's Kate Davison sat down with coal giant Bob Murray, owner of Murray Energy, one day after it was announced Powhatan No. 6 Mine in Belmont County will be closing indefinitely in 6 months.

Kate: What is your reaction to the closing of this most recent mine?

Murray: "It's sadness. I like to create jobs, and I like to build. I had 8,400 employees last May 1st. Today, I'm down about 3,000 jobs. And it troubles me because I know the names of these people. They just want to work in honor and dignity, and they're being denied that. So it's sadness to see this mine close. "

Kate: What is the reason for closing this mine? I had heard that it was just done, there were no more resources left?

Murray: "It's two reasons -- that is correct, the mine is depleted, but we could have added reserves to it. But there are 50 bankrupt coal companies today. There are only three that are not in bankruptcy. We're one of them. And we hope to stay out of it and any financial difficulties.

"... This mine fell out in the half we have to close because we have to keep the more productive, the lower-cost mines operating. So it's a combination of both reserves, but I would have found a way to keep it open if the markets were there."

Kate: This mine was special to you. It was your first.

Murray: "It was very special ma'am. I sold my son's toys, it's true. I mortgaged my home to buy that coal mine. When I bought it, there were 292 employees, May 25th, '88. I built that mine from those 292 employees and it was closing. The mine was closing then to 711 jobs over the 28 years. I've allowed 3,400 United Mine Workers of America-represented coal miners to get their retirement and medical and their pension benefits. I'm very proud of that in my lifetime. Thirty-four hundred! Had that mine closed back in '88, they would not have had the opportunity to work there, to retire, and to get their benefits.

And I voluntarily picked up the old Powhatan, 1, 3, and 5 mines where I knew the men because I had worked there also. So it's been a huge impact, and I'm proud of that. Now I'm sad because I have to cut back, and I'm laying these people off. They have nowhere to go. "They just want to work, and they're being denied that by Washington democrats."

Kate: Some have said the decision to close the mine in November is a political move. How would you respond to that?

Murray: "I would say that's very insulting. Anyone that would say that does not know me at all. These people mean everything to me. At my age, I'm still working to try to keep their jobs. That's an absolute false contention. I want to keep the jobs; I like to create jobs. It's not politics at all.

"This is home, these are my people, and I wish I could see them work. That's what I want is prosperity for them and their families. Not destruction. And this is absolute destruction."

Kate: What do you see for the future of Murray Energy?

Murray: "Well I'm hoping that we can go on in some fashion. The industry has now gone from 1.2 billion tons of production a year down to 600 million. I want to be in that 600 million and survive, but it's very, very difficult. Coal prices are going down. As every coal company goes bankrupt, they drive coal prices down even further. And it's becoming even more difficult, but we have a plan to stay in business and I think we'll make it."

Murray says the only mine set close this year is the Powhatan 6 Mine of the Ohio Valley Coal Company.