The company confirmed the geological issues were in the Waynesburg, Greene County operation’s headgate area.

“While mine employees work to mitigate the conditions that halted operations, the mine is on idle status as of July 15, and coal shipments have ceased,” the company said.

“Cumberland's management currently anticipates that it will be at least several weeks before production resumes.”

While Alpha and Cumberland worked to rectify the issue, Alpha confirmed it would maintain a reduced workforce “who are key to bringing the longwall back into production”, though it did not indicate how many crew members would remain on payroll.

The news comes after reports over the weekend that the miner had announced layoffs from mines in four southern West Virginia counties.

Alpha officials did not respond to an ILN request for more information and the mines’ identities, but according to local news outlet WYMT about 106 workers were given pink slips in Nicholas, Boone, Raleigh and Greenbrier County.

Low coal prices were cited as the reason for the layoffs.

One report outlined an idle at Alpha’s Pocahontas and the closure of one section at Grassy Creek No.1 and, between all closures, the loss of 1Mt of production.

About 80 of those furloughed with the round would be offered employment elsewhere in the Alpha portfolio, the WTMT report said.