Reported by: Jackalyn Kovac
SOMERSET, Pa. -- Over 100 people are without a job after a Canadian company decided to close two Somerset County mines.
The company said coal prices are a seven-year low and these two mines weren't as profitable.
After a merger last year, two Somerset County mines were placed under management review for closure.
On Friday, both mines, Kimberly Run and Barbara mines, were closed and workers were told they no longer had a job.
In a press release on the company's website Friday, they blamed weakness in global metallurgical coal markets as a reason to eliminate 130 jobs.
The company said a number of other employees were transferred to neighboring mines that are also the least expensive to operate for the company " the Casselman and the Quecreek.
In that press release, the company's chief executive officer said: "We regret the need to take today's actions, however, we anticipate these moves will improve the overall construction of the Northern Appalachian Division while still maintaining premium, quality, metallurgical coal specifications."
The number of jobs lost is about 25 percent of the company's Northern Appalachian Division.
The company told 6 News they hope to rehire some of these workers once the prices of market goes back up.
