Businessweek

Oxford Resource Partners, LP engages in the production and marketing of steam coal and surface mined coal in the United States. The company’s reserves and operations are located in Northern Appalachia and the Illinois Basin to serve its primary market area of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Mining Operations The company has 19 active surface mines that are managed as 8 mining complexes. Its operations also include two river terminals, located in eastern Ohio and western Kentucky. As of December 31, 2011, the company owned and/or controlled 88.0 million tons of proven and probable coal reserves, of which 63.3 million tons were associated with its surface mining operations and the remaining 24.7 million tons consisted of underground coal reserves. Northern Appalachia The company operates seven surface mining complexes in Northern Appalachia, which are primarily located in eastern Ohio. Cadiz Mining Complex: The Cadiz mining complex is located principally in Harrison County, Ohio and includes reserves located in Jefferson County, Ohio; and Washington County, Pennsylvania. It consists of the Daron, Bundy, Ellis, and County Road 29 mines. As of December 31, 2011, the Cadiz mining complex included 9.0 million tons of proven and probable coal reserves. Tuscarawas County Mining Complex: The Tuscarawas County mining complex is located in Tuscarawas, Columbiana, and Stark counties, Ohio, and consists of the Stonecreek, Stillwater, Lisbon, Strasburg, and East Canton mines. As of December 31, 2011, the Tuscarawas County mining complex included 6.4 million tons of proven and probable coal reserves. Plainfield Mining Complex: The Plainfield mining complex is located in Muskingum, Guernsey and Coshocton Counties, Ohio, and consists of the Otsego mine. Operations at the Plainfield mining complex target the Middle Kittanning #6 coal seam. As of December 31, 2011, the Plainfield mining complex included 5.4 million tons of proven and probable coal reserves. Belmont County Mining Complex: The Belmont County mining complex is located in Belmont County, Ohio, and consists of the Lafferty, Jeffco, and Wheeling Valley mines. Operations at the Belmont County mining complex target the Pittsburgh #8 and Meigs Creek #9 coal seams. As of December 31, 2011, the Belmont County mining complex included 9.0 million tons of proven and probable coal reserves. New Lexington Mining Complex: The New Lexington mining complex is located in Perry, Athens, and Morgan counties, Ohio, and consists of the New Lexington mine. Operations at the New Lexington mining complex target the Lower Kittanning #5, Middle Kittanning #6, and Pittsburgh #8 coal seams. As of December 31, 2011, the New Lexington mining complex included 4.7 million tons of proven and probable coal reserves. Harrison Mining Complex: The Harrison mining complex is located in Harrison County, Ohio, and consists of the Harrison mine. The Harrison mining complex is owned by Harrison Resources, LLC (Harrison Resources). The company owns 51% of Harrison Resources and CONSOL Energy Inc. owns the remaining 49% of Harrison Resources indirectly through its subsidiary. The company manages the operations of, and performs the contract mining and marketing services for, Harrison Resources. Operations at the Harrison mining complex target the Pittsburgh #8, Redstone #8A, and Meigs Creek #9 coal seams. As of December 31, 2011, the Harrison mining complex included 4.3 million tons of proven and probable coal reserves. Noble County Mining Complex: The Noble County mining complex is located in Noble and Guernsey Counties, Ohio, and consists of the Shuman mine. Operations at the Noble County mining complex target the Pittsburgh #8 and Meigs Creek #9 coal seams. As of December 31, 2011, the Noble County mining complex included 2.4 million tons of proven and probable coal reserves. Illinois Basin The company operates one surface mining complex in the Illinois Basin, which is located in western Kentucky. Muhlenberg County Mining Complex: The Muhlenberg County mining complex is located in Muhlenberg and McClean counties, in western Kentucky, and consists of the Schoate, Highway 431, and Rose France mines. Operations at the Muhlenberg County mining complex target the #5, #6, #9, #10, #11, #12, and #13 coal seams of the Illinois Basin. As of December 31, 2011, the Muhlenberg County mining complex included 22.1 million tons of proven and probable coal reserves. Customers The company markets the majority of the coal it produces to base-load power plants in its six-state market area under long-term coal sales contracts. Its primary customers are major electric utilities, municipalities and cooperatives, and industrial customers. For the period ended December 31, 2011, the company’s major customers included American Electric Power Service Corporation, First Energy, Big Rivers Electric, East Kentucky Power Cooperative, and Duke Energy. Competition The company’s main competitors include Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.; Alpha Natural Resources, Inc.; Armstrong Coal Company; Buckingham Coal Co., Inc.; The Cline Group; CONSOL Energy Inc.; Massey Energy Company; Murray Energy Corporation; Patriot Coal Corp.; Peabody Energy, Inc.; and Rhino Resource Partners LP. Regulation Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA): The company’s mines are located in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky, each of which has primacy to administer the SMCRA program in its territory. Other Environmental Laws and Matters: The company is required to comply with various other federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations, including the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. History Oxford Resource Partners, LP was founded in 1985.