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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Russian mining company Mechel OAO says it has temporarily shut down some of its southern West Virginia operations.
Because of high inventories and a sluggish market, the Mechel Bluestone subsidiary says it's temporarily suspended operations at the Keystone, Justice Energy and Dynamic Energy mining complexes.
The Frontier mine in Wyoming County and the K-2, Red Fox and Coal Mountain washing plants will continue operating.
Mechel didn't immediately say Monday how many workers are affected. But it said the layoffs are expected to last two or three months.
Earlier this year, Mechel closed a processing plant in McDowell County.
Moscow-based Mechel operates mines, metal refineries and power plants in Russia, Kazakhstan, the United States, Romania, Bulgaria and Lithuania.
It bought Bluestone in 2009 from the owner of The Greenbrier, Jim Justice.
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