EXHIBIT 23.6
               CONSENT OF WEIR INTERNATIONAL MINING CONSULTANTS


     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 1994 reserve report, as updated in May 1998, with respect to the
demonstrated coal reserves of Zeigler Coal Holding Company, Inc. and its
subsidiaries, which were acquired by Zeigler Acquisition Corporation, a
subsidiary of AEI Resources, Inc. ("AEI"), on September 2, 1998, all of which
are included in the prospectus of AEI Holding Company, Inc. ("the Company") and
AEI for the registration of US$200,000,000 of the 10 1/2% Senior Notes of the
Company and AEI due 2005, which prospectus is part of the registration statement
to which this consent is an exhibit.

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

Respectfully submitted,


Weir International Mining Consultants


By:  /s/ Dennis N. Kostic
     _______________________

Name: Dennis N. Kostic 
     _______________________

Title: President 
     _______________________

Date:  February 8, 1999