Peabody to get RAG's shut Empire, Shoshone mines

摘要

In a previously unreported development, it has been confirmed that Peabody Energy's pending deal to buy RAG American Coal's Twentymile operation in Colorado also includes the acquisition of the now-shut Empire mine in Colorado and the Shoshone deep mine in Wyoming. The late-December announcement of the Twentymile agreement, which is due to close in the first half of 2004, failed to mention that these two mines were included in the sale (CO 1/5). But RAG on Feb. 18 confirmed rumors in the western coalfields that the two shut properties are indeed part of the sale agreement. RAG sources referred further comment to Peabody, but Peabody's Beth Sutton declined comment due to a confidentiality agreement and the tentative nature of the purchase deal.