Anker filed for bankruptcy last year to reorganise after it failed to make payments to its bondholders.

The company currently operates underground mines in West Virginia in Barbour and Upshur counties and a surface mine that extends into Pennsylvania. The three mines have a total output of three million tonnes.

Anker also holds 500 million tons of coal reserves with idle interests in Raleigh County, Maryland and Virginia

AP reported Anker had a positive outlook for coal prices and were confident the company would sell more coal next year.