The Belle Ayr mine is a coal mine located 18 miles southeast of Gillette, Wyoming in the United States in the coal-rich Powder River Basin. The mine is an open pit, "truck and shovel", mine producing a low-sulfur, sub-bituminous coal from the Wyodak-Anderson seam that is used for domestic energy generation. Coal produced by the mine is shipped to its customers via railroad. The mine is owned and operated by Eagle Specialty Materials LLC after being acquired from Blackjewel LLC in 2019.
As of 2009, Belle Ayr had reserves of 406 mm tons of sub-bituminous coal and a maximum permitted production capacity of 45mm tons per year. Typical annual production has been in 26-28mm ton range for the last several years though. The average quality of the coal shipped from Belle Ayr is 8,550 BTU/lb, 0.33% Sulfur, 4.50% Ash, and 1.90% Sodium (of the ash). Train loading operations at the mine are done with a batch weigh bin system that is coupled to a "weigh-in-motion" track scale system. Silo capacity at the mine's rail loop, which can accommodate up to 5 unit trains, is 46,000 tons. In 2008, the mine produced just over 28.7 million short tons of coal, making it the 7th-most productive coal mine in the United States. In 2022, this had halved to just over 14.2 million short tons. However, this still made it the 6th-most productive coal mine in the US that year. History
The Belle Ayr Mine began operations in 1972 and is the oldest, non-captive mine in the Powder River Basin. Since mining operations began, the mine has shipped over 574 million tons of coal to its customers. The Belle Ayr mine has changed hands many times through mergers and sales. Previous owners include AMAX, Cyprus AMAX, RAG, and Foundation Coal.
In 2007, Belle Ayr was awarded a Director's Award from the Office of Surface Mining for its restoration work on Caballo Creek, which winds its way through the Belle Ayr Mine property.
On July 1, 2019, CEO Jeffery Hoop announced that Blackjewel LLC, the operator of Belle Ayr had filed for bankruptcy and closed the mine. According to the Casper Star-Tribune, court documents show that Blackjewel owes $500 million in liabilities, including $6 million to employees. This was after Blackjewel was denied $20 million in financing by the United Bank of West Virginia.
Production
Year Coal Production(short tons) Employees 2022 14,257,882 255 2021 14,449,608 256 2020 11,174,953 252 2019 10,219,206 207 2018 18,467,405 252 2017 15,826,344 244 2016 14,883,227 241 2015 18,318,629 286 2014 15,796,556 263 2013 18,258,922 301 2012 24,227,846 350 2011 24,582,007 351 2010 25,766,025 353 2009 28,655,953 352 2008 28,707,982 328 2007 26,608,765 280 2006 24,593,035 256 2005 19,469,814 259 2004 18,688,358 259 2003 17,853,928 260 2002 17,452,455 235 2001 11,750,497 219 2000 11,750,497 249 1999 15,016,000 253 1998 17,885,338 280 1997 22,800,736 280 1996 19,970,300 261 1995 18,771,977 224 1994 18,361,866 239 1993 15,585,828 230 1992 13,007,761 233 1991 14,748,327 240 1990 15,524,782 241 1989 13,662,836 244 1988 13,295,487 275 1987 13,329,591 347 1986 12,145,894 361 1985 12,829,379 371 1984 13,379,844 381 1983 13,825,242 404 1982 14,800,000 1981 15,100,000 1980 15,900,000 1979 15,000,000 1978 17,800,000 1977 13,100,000 1976 7,100,000 1975 2,500,000 1974 2,700,000 1973 400,000 1972 100,000
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