“In accordance with requirements of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, notices were given to 192 employees of the Partnership's Central Appalachia operations,” the company said.

“The final number of Rhino employees that will ultimately be impacted by these actions will be based on future market conditions for Central Appalachia metallurgical and steam coal.”

Rhino’s operations in this region spanned one underground mine and three surface coal mines across the Tug River (Kentucky and West Virginia), Rob Fork (eastern Kentucky) and Deane (eastern Kentucky) mining complexes.

"We are taking difficult actions that are necessary due to the persistent weakness in the coal markets,” Rhino president, CEO and general partner Joe Funk said.

“Demand for Central Appalachia steam coal has fallen to unprecedented levels as utilities choose low-priced natural gas for electricity generation and other coal-fired capacity is shuttered due to governmental regulations.

“Met coal prices remain at depressed levels due to persistent worldwide oversupply and weak demand from China. Future market conditions will determine the duration that our Central Appalachia operations remain idle."