Bluestone Industries, owned by West Virginia state governor Jim Justice, told the Associated Press that the Bent Mountain, Beech Creek and A&G Coal No. 4 operations in Pike and Letcher counties had initially been idled due to the downturn in the coal market.
The miner added that equipment for the trio is currently being sent to the sites.
In June, Bluestone, based in southern West Virginia, confirmed the restart of its No. 59 underground coal operation in the state.
Jim Justice and his son Jay sold Bluestone Coal to steelmaker Mechel in 2009 for US$436 million, then bought it back for just $5 million plus royalties in 2015.
