PIKEVILLE, Ky. — Alliance Resource Partners has announced the permanent closure of the MC Mining Complex in Pike County, affecting all of the facility’s 280 workers.

Excel Mining issued Workforce Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notices to employees of the facility on Friday. The MC Mining Complex is owned by MC Mining and operated by Excel Mining, both of which are subsidiaries of Alliance.

“The decision to issue WARN notices at the MC Mining Complex was not made lights,” Alliance Chairman, President and CEO Joseph W. Craft III said in a statement issued by the company. “Despite our continued efforts to navigate challenging geology and market conditions, persistent weakness in coal demand, compounded by some delays in timely payment for committed coal sales, has necessitated this difficult but necessary step to begin winding down production operations.

“We deeply regret the impact this decision has on our employees, their families and their communities.”

On Friday, coal production at the complex was reduced to two production units. Production from those units and existing inventory will be used to fulfill existing contractual obligations before the complex is shuttered for good. Employees not involved in production will turn their attention to reclamation efforts.

Alliance gave no timeline for when the closure would occur.