Exhibit 99.1

PRESS RELEASE

                                            CONTACT:
                                            BRIAN L. CANTRELL
                                            Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.
                                            1717 South Boulder Avenue, Suite 600
                                            Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119
(ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P. LOGO)     (918) 295-7673
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P.
ANNOUNCES RESUMPTION OF HOPKINS COUNTY COAL OPERATIONS

TULSA, Oklahoma, September 2, 2004 - Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ:
ARLP) (the "Partnership") today announced plans to resume operations at the
Newcoal surface mine, which was idled by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hopkins
County Coal, LLC, in June 2003. (See ARLP Press Releases dated April 3 and June
2, 2003.) The decision to re-open the Newcoal surface mine is in response to
incremental sales opportunities from the Partnership's existing customers as
well as the continued strong market demand for Illinois Basin region coals.

The surface operation will utilize dragline mining to produce approximately
70,000 tons per month of high-sulfur coal. Hopkins County Coal, which is located
near Madisonville, Kentucky, is expected to begin production within 30 days and
employ approximately 66 miners. The Newcoal surface mine has remaining coal
reserves of approximately 1.1 million tons. It is anticipated that production
from the Newcoal surface mine will be shipped via the CSX and PAL railroads and
by truck on federal and state highways.

As a result of the resumption of operations at Hopkins County Coal, the
Partnership is increasing its estimated production for 2004 and 2005 to 20.8
million tons and 22.1 million tons, respectively.

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; RISKS 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 INSURANCE
PROPERTY PROGRAM.


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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, 2003 FILED ON MARCH 12, 2004 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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