A coal company plans to rehire 73 employees who've been out of work at a Montana mine since April. The workers will be able to return to Spring Creek Mine on Aug. 3, according to a Monday announcement by the Navajo Transitional Energy Company.
NTEC also laid off 57 employees at its Antelope, Wyoming mine in April. The company hasn't announced any plans for those workers to return, Wyoming Public Radio reported.
Higher electricity use due to summertime air conditioning – and easing of public health measures to control the coronavirus – prompted the Montana rehiring, CEO Clark Moseley said in a statement.
"Spring Creek is well positioned to deliver the product to meet U.S. energy demand and aid in economic recovery,” said Moseley.
NTEC, a Navajo Nation company, acquired the mines last year after the bankruptcy of Gillette-based Cloud Peak Energy.
