White County Coal has begun efforts to repair the vertical belt system but is currently unable to estimate a completion date. The actual time required to repair the vertical belt system will be impacted by, among other factors, availability of materials and equipment. Alliance is taking steps to mitigate the loss of production from the Pattiki mine during the repair period by expanding coal production at other operations in the region, which includes bringing the seventh and eighth production units into operation at the River View mine in Union County, Ky. Although normal production operations at the Pattiki mine remain suspended pending completion of repairs, the company does not expect a material adverse impact its business.
Pattiki produces high-sulfur coal from the Illinois No. 6 coal seam using continuous mining units and room-and-pillar techniques. The mine averaged approximately 220,000 tons per month during the first quarter of 2010.
