Peabody Energy To Cut About 235 Jobs At North Antelope Rochelle Mine

(RTTNews) - Peabody Energy (BTU) said that it plans to reduce about 235 hourly and salaried employees from its North Antelope Rochelle Mine in the Powder River Basin to align the workforce with customer needs.

The reductions affect approximately 15 percent of the workforce at the North Antelope Rochelle Mine.

U.S. coal industry conditions have remained challenged, impacted by an oversupply of natural gas and mild winter weather. The U.S. coal industry has seen unprecedented shipment declines this year. Heating degree days year-to-date are 17 percent lower than last year, with March heating degree days down nearly 30 percent versus the 10-year average.

Peabody's Powder River Basin operations employ approximately 1,500 workers with approximately 1,150 employed at the North Antelope Rochelle Mine following these reductions. The company's Powder River Basin operations injected $5.5 billion in direct and indirect economic benefits into the region this past year.