The company said the main shaft of the continuous miner severed and caused the separation of the cutter heads from the unit during the evening shift on May 17.

“While management is investigating alternatives, difficulty in sourcing replacement parts may necessitate a rebuild of the continuous miner,” officials said.

The rebuild is expected to take one to two weeks.

While the repair is completed, Cobalt said it will idle the McDowell County operation.

Cobalt’s Westchester mine has gained much popularity as the subject mine of the US documentary series/reality show Coal on Spike TV.

Calgary-based Cobalt Coal announced last May it had recommenced production at the 40-worker room-and-pillar Westchester mine.

Initially operational from the final quarter of 2008 to the second quarter of 2009, Westchester was idled due to a significant fall in metallurgical demand resulting from the global recession.

After receiving a new purchase order in the first quarter of 2010, Cobalt has been working to bring the mine back into production.

Cobalt owns a 60% after-payout interest in Westchester and operates the mine through its wholly owned Westchester Coal subsidiary.