The mine will be operated by Gibson County Coal.
The project’s preliminary permit application was submitted last week, and the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) anticipates the next step, a public comment period, to begin shortly.
The mine, which is expected to operate as a separate entity from Gibson County Coal, stands to employ approximately 270, according to mine manager Maynard St John.
The coal reserve where the plant is being planned is the second largest Alliance Natural Resources owns within the Illinois Basin, and will almost double the reserves held by Gibson County Coal in the county.
Alliance Natural Resources commenced construction on its Gibson County complex in 1999 and began producing in 2000. After adding a continuous miner last year, the operation now produces some 700 raw tons of low-sulphur product per hour.
