CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Consol Energy says it will idle its Fola Operations near Bickmore on Aug. 30.
The shutdown will affect 318 workers, including surface and underground miners, and reclamation and office staff.
Pittsburgh-based Consol said Friday it expects 2012 production to be reduced by 800,000 tons. So far this year, the Fola complex has produced more than 1 million tons of coal.
Consol says it needs to adjust to soft markets and declining demand. It also says there's "significant uncertainty" about whether power companies will continue to use Central Appalachian coal at their plants.
President Nicholas DeIuliis also says the warm winter left customers with huge stockpiles, and they can't accept more shipments.
Until the layoffs begin, underground operations will continue, but surface employees will be reassigned from mining to reclamation work.