Western KY Coal Mine Closing, 156 to Lose Jobs

A western Kentucky underground coal mine is closing this summer, meaning at least 156 miners will lose their jobs.

The Gleaner in Henderson reported that Patriot Coal Co. is permanently closing its Freedom mine in eastern Henderson County.

A notice Patriot filed to county and state officials on Friday said the closing could also idle another seven people at the Bluegrass mining complex office in Henderson, of which Freedom is a part and up to 37 people at the Grand Eagle coal preparation plant in Henderson.

The company cited "continued weakness in market demand."

The mine produced 1.2 million tons of thermal coal last year. Earlier this year, Patriot closed three Appalachian thermal coal mines that produced a total of about 1.2 million tons in 2011.