Core Natural Resources announced that it resumed longwall operations at its Leer South metallurgical mine in Barbour County, W.Va. The longwall system had been idle since January 13, 2025, when combustion-related activity was detected in a previously mined area. In addition, Core announced that its West Elk longwall mine in Colorado is now executing at consistent productivity levels following a period of transition associated with its move to the B-Seam, and Core expects that improved performance to continue in future periods.
“Leer South is a highly strategic asset, and we fully expect this world-class operation to execute at a high level in 2026 and beyond. While the issues at Leer South and West Elk adversely affected Core’s performance in 2025, we are looking forward to strong cost improvement and profitability at both these operations going forward,” said Jimmy Brock, Core’s chairman and CEO.
The Core team successfully recovered the major mining equipment at Leer South, including the 209 hydraulic shields, face conveyor, shearer, stage loader, crusher and power system. The company said that the equipment was generally in good condition, with limited damage despite the prolonged period of inactivity. Following the repositioning of the longwall system, the operations team permanently sealed the affected area of the Leer South mine, effectively eliminating any potential future issues associated with this combustion event.
“The Core operations team has displayed tremendous professionalism, dedication and – most importantly – the highest commitment to safety throughout this process at Leer South,” said George Schuller Jr., Core’s senior VP and COO. “We expect Leer South to enter 2026 fully ramped and operating efficiently, with an exceptionally strong outlook for operational excellence going forward.”
In aggregate, Core expects a significant step-up in its financial performance in 2026 due to the restart at Leer South, the much-improved geological conditions at West Elk, the substantial insurance recoveries stemming principally from the combustion event at Leer South, the cessation of the fire-suppression and idling costs at Leer South and the full-year benefit of substantial and ongoing merger-related synergies.
Source: www.coalage.com
