Exhibit 99.1
PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT:
Brian L. Cantrell
Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.
1717 South Boulder Avenue, Suite 600
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119
(918) 295-7673
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P.
Dotiki Mine Fire Extinguished; Production Resumed
Tulsa, Oklahoma, March 8, 2004 - Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ: ARLP)
today announced that its wholly-owned Webster County Coal, LLC subsidiary has
completed its efforts to extinguish a mine fire at its Dotiki mine, located near
Providence, Kentucky. Production operations at Dotiki resumed earlier today. The
Dotiki mine was temporarily idled on February 11, 2004, following the occurrence
of a mine fire that originated with a diesel supply tractor. (See ARLP Press
Release, dated February 12, 2004.)
On March 3, 2004, Webster County Coal employees and mine rescue teams completed
the construction of the third and final set of permanent seals at the Dotiki
mine. With the installation of these seals and injection of inert gases
completed, the Dotiki mine fire was effectively extinguished and the affected
area of the mine totally isolated behind a series of permanent seals. (See ARLP
Press Release, dated March 1, 2004.)
"We are very proud of the extraordinary progress that we have made since the
Dotiki mine fire occurred on February 11, 2004," said Charlie Wesley, Senior
Vice President of Operations. "We permanently isolated the Dotiki mine fire area
in a period of only 21 days. In just three weeks, we completed a task that would
have lasted many months had we relied on conventional methods. We are very
grateful for the hard work and innovative thinking of everyone involved."
Wesley continued, "We would like to thank our employees, business partners and
the local community for their hard work and support throughout this entire
effort. In particular, Webster County Coal extends its heartfelt appreciation to
the Mine Safety and Health Administration along with the Kentucky Department of
Mines and Minerals for providing invaluable expertise and assistance in the
development and execution of the state-of-the-art recovery techniques employed
at the Dotiki mine."
Once the permanent seals were installed and the mine safely ventilated, Webster
County Coal crews performed a thorough examination of the entire Dotiki mine.
Information obtained during these examinations indicated minimal impact to the
Dotiki mine outside of the now permanently sealed fire area. Webster County
Coal's rehabilitation of the Dotiki mine infrastructure was completed over the
weekend and all six mining units at the Dotiki mine returned to production
earlier today.
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Following the fire incident at Dotiki, Webster County Coal transferred a
majority of its employees to assist in the implementation of expanded production
schedules with affiliate operations at the Pattiki mine, operated by White
County Coal, LLC in White County, Illinois, and the Warrior mine, operated by
Warrior Coal, LLC near Madisonville, Kentucky. With the Dotiki mine recovery and
rehabilitation efforts completed, White County Coal and Warrior Coal resumed
normal production schedules and the affected workers have been transferred back
to Webster County Coal.
The Dotiki mine is an underground mining complex that employs approximately 360
workers. The mine produces low moisture, high sulfur coal from the Kentucky No.
9 coal seam utilizing continuous mining units and room-and-pillar techniques.
Production from the mine during 2003 averaged approximately 407,000 tons per
month.
The statements and projections used throughout this release are based on current
expectations. These statements and projections are forward-looking, and actual
results may differ materially. These projections do not include the potential
impact of any mergers, acquisitions or other business combinations that may
occur after the date of this release. At the end of this release, we have
included more information regarding the business risks that could affect our
results.
Alliance Resource Partners is the nation's only publicly traded master limited
partnership involved in the production and marketing of coal. Alliance Resource
Partners currently operates mining complexes in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and
Maryland.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HISTORICAL MATTERS, ANY
MATTERS DISCUSSED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT
INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER
MATERIALLY FROM PROJECTED RESULTS. THESE RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND CONTINGENCIES
INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING: COMPETITION IN COAL MARKETS AND
OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THE COMPETITION; FLUCTUATION IN COAL PRICES, WHICH
COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR OPERATING RESULTS AND CASH FLOWS; DEREGULATION OF THE
ELECTRIC UTILITY INDUSTRY OR THE EFFECTS OF ANY ADVERSE CHANGE IN THE DOMESTIC
COAL INDUSTRY, ELECTRIC UTILITY INDUSTRY, OR GENERAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS;
DEPENDENCE ON SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMER CONTRACTS, INCLUDING RENEWING CUSTOMER
CONTRACTS UPON EXPIRATION OF EXISTING CONTRACTS; CUSTOMER BANKRUPTCIES AND/OR
CANCELLATIONS OF, OR BREACHES TO, EXISTING CONTRACTS; CUSTOMER DELAYS OR
DEFAULTS IN MAKING PAYMENTS; FLUCTUATIONS IN COAL DEMAND, PRICES AND
AVAILABILITY DUE TO LABOR AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND DISRUPTIONS, EQUIPMENT
AVAILABILITY, GOVERNMENTAL REGULATIONS AND OTHER FACTORS; OUR PRODUCTIVITY
LEVELS AND MARGINS THAT WE EARN ON OUR COAL SALES; ANY UNANTICIPATED INCREASES
IN LABOR COSTS, ADVERSE CHANGES IN WORK RULES, OR UNEXPECTED CASH PAYMENTS
ASSOCIATED WITH POST-MINE RECLAMATION AND WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS; ANY
UNANTICIPATED INCREASES IN TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND RISK OF TRANSPORTATION
DELAYS OR INTERRUPTIONS; GREATER THAN EXPECTED ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION, COSTS
AND LIABILITIES; A VARIETY OF OPERATIONAL, GEOLOGIC, PERMITTING, LABOR AND
WEATHER-RELATED FACTORS; RISK OF MAJOR MINE-RELATED ACCIDENTS OR INTERRUPTIONS;
RESULTS OF LITIGATION; DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING OUR SURETY BONDS FOR MINE
RECLAMATION AS WELL AS WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND BLACK LUNG BENEFITS; DIFFICULTY
OBTAINING COMMERCIAL PROPERTY INSURANCE; AND RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR 10.0%
PARTICIPATION (EXCLUDING ANY APPLICABLE DEDUCTIBLE) IN THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
PROGRAM.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THESE AND OTHER FACTORS CAN BE FOUND IN THE
PARTNERSHIP'S PUBLIC PERIODIC FILINGS WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION ("SEC"), INCLUDING THE PARTNERSHIP'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR
THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 FILED ON MARCH 20, 2003 WITH THE SEC. EXCEPT AS
REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS, THE PARTNERSHIP DOES NOT INTEND TO
UPDATE ITS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.
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