Officials for the company sent a letter of intent to its employees recently, adding that it would also defer or cancel several other capital projects following a re-evaluation of plans.

Peabody spokeswoman Beth Sutton told ILN the producer would not comment on the move, which she called a “routine internal announcement in this environment”, and did not release the communication publicly.

Sutton also said Peabody would not elaborate on the capital project plans it would cancel or postpone.

However, chief executive Gregory Boyce told the Associated Press that the company’s business strategy remains solid and that it is planning for success in the long term.

The PRB mines controlled by Peabody are the Rawhide, Caballo and North Antelope Rochelle mines in the northeast region of Wyoming, all of which are surface operations.