1
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.2
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
   
We consent to the inclusion in this registration statement on Amendment No. 2 on
Form S-4 for $125 million of 9.75% Series B Senior Notes of our reports dated
February 28, 1997, on our audits of the consolidated financial statements of
Anker Coal Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries and Anker Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries,
respectively, and our report dated August 8, 1997 on our audit of the combined
financial statements of Oak Mountain Energy Corporation and its Affiliates. We
also consent to the references to our firm under the caption "Experts", "Summary
Historical and Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Data" and "Selected Consolidated
Historical Financial Data."
    
 
                                          COOPERS & LYBRAND LLP
 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
   
February 9, 1998