Rhino Resource Partners is temporarily idling a majority of its US Central Appalachia coal operations because of the ongoing weakness in the coal markets, the producer said in a statement Tuesday. The company has sent out WARN notices to a total of 192 workers at its CAPP operations that include three surface mines and one underground mine at the Tug River, Rob Fork, and Deane mining complexes located in eastern Kentucky and West Virginia. Exactly how many employees that will ultimately be affected will depend on future market conditions for CAPP metallurgical and thermal coal, Rhino said. “We are taking difficult actions that are necessary due to the persistent weakness in the coal markets,” CEO Joe Funk said in the statement. “Demand for Central Appalachia steam coal has fallen to unprecedented levels as utilities choose low-priced natural gas for electricity generation and other coal-fired capacity is shuttered due to […]