Officials said Thursday that the opposite was now the case and inventories had decreased. The Justice Energy and Dynamic Energy mines, as a result, would produce about 135,000 tonnes monthly as crews got back to work.

Mechel did not confirm at the time how many jobs would be lost, and did not indicate any staffing plans in Thursday’s announcement.

Bluestone’s washing plants continued running during the three-month shutdown, the company said, and all of its pre-existing contract obligations were met in full.

Other Mechel Bluestone facilities will resume “as market conditions warrant”, it says.

Mechel’s Frontier mine in Wyoming County, part of Dynamic Energy, as well as the K-2, Red Fox and Coal Mountain washing plants were not idled.

The Bluestone Coal unit was sold to Mechel in 2009 by West Virginia businessman and coal magnate Jim Justice for more than $US436 million cash and $80 million in preferred Mechel shares.

According to the Mechel web site, the Bluestone division, which operates out of Beckley, has 5 million tons of annual output.