Trump Backer Robert Murray Takes Largest Private Coal Mining Company, Murray Energy, Into Bankruptcy

America’s largest private coal mining company, Murray Energy Holdings Co., filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday, making it the fifth coal company to take such action this year and underscoring how renewable energy sources and cheap natural gas have eaten into coal’s share of the energy market.

Murray’s owner, Robert Murray, a big donor to President Trump’s campaign, had pressed Trump to help save the coal mining jobs.

The company announced it had entered into a restructuring support agreement with lenders holding some $1.7 billion in liabilities. The agreement with creditors provides for access to $350 million in debtor-in-possession financing. Murray will chair the board of Murray NewCo, with Robert E. Moore will be president and CEO.

“Although a bankruptcy filing is not an easy decision, it became necessary to access liquidity and best position Murray Energy and its affiliates for the future of our employees and customers and our long-term success,” Murray said in a press release.

The Chapter 11 filing included Murray’s main operating subsidiaries: American Energy Corp., the Harrison County Coal Co., the Marion County Coal Co., the Marshall County Coal Co., the Monongalia County Coal Co., the Ohio County Coal Co., UtahAmerican Energy Inc., Murray South America Inc., the Muhlenberg County Coal Co. and the Western Kentucky Coal Co. LLC, which operate 17 active mines in Ohio, West Virginia, Utah, Kentucky and Colombia.

The filing excludes Foresight Energy LP (FELP) and Foresight Energy GP LLC, including their direct and indirect subsidiaries, as well as Murray Metallurgical Coal Holdings LLC, Murray Eagle Mining LLC, Murray Alabama Minerals LLC, Murray Maple Eagle Coal LLC, Murray Alabama Coal LLC and Murray Oak Grove LLC.

The filing seeks to wipe out union agreements for about half of the company’s more than 5,000 employees. The company faces more than $8 billion in pension and benefits liabilities.

“We have high-powered legal, financial and communications teams in place that will fight to protect our members’ interests in the bankruptcy court,” United Mine Workers of America International President Cecil E. Roberts said in a statement emailed to Bloomberg. “I want our active members to know that this filing changes nothing as far as the current terms and conditions of employment.”

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., noted the bankruptcy filing would shorten the life of the UMWA pension fund by two years, leading it to insolvency next year.

Murray is just the latest coal company to file for bankruptcy. Cloud Peak Energy Inc., Cambrian Coal Co., Blackjewel LLC and Blackhawk Mining LLC, also sought bankruptcy protection this year as demand for coal waned. As recently as 2003, coal provided half of U.S. energy needs.

Trump tried to grant subsidies to nuclear and coal-fired plants, but the plan was shot down by energy regulators last year. Some of those plants were Murray customers. As of May, 50 coal-fired plants had shut down since Trump took office in 2017.

Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., said there’s no war on coal, just market forces making it obsolete.