EXHIBIT 23.8



                      CONSENT OF NORWEST MINE SERVICES  

We hereby consent to: (1) the reference to us under the captions "Coal Reserve
Data" and "Engineers"; and (2) the use of information from or based on our
reserve report November 1997, as updated in August 1998,with respect to the
demonstrated coal reserves of Kindill Holding, Inc. and its subsidiaries which
were acquired by West Viginia-Indiana Coal Holding Company, Inc., a susidiary of
AEI Resources, Inc. ("AEI), September 2, 1998, all of which are included in the
prospectus of AEI for the registration of US$150,000,000 of AEI's 11 1/2% Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2006, which prospectus is part of the registration
statement to which this consent is an exhibit

     We further wish to advise that Norwest Mine Services  was not
employed on a contingent basis and that at the time of preparation of our
report, as well as at present, neither Norwest Mine Services nor any of
its employees had or now has a substantial interest in AEI or any of its
subsidiaries.

Respectfully submitted,


Norwest Mine Services


By:   /s/ Thomas G. Durham
      _______________________

Name:  Thomas G. Durham, P.E.
      _______________________

Title: Vice President
      _______________________

Date:     February 8, 1999