WINDOW ROCK — Bisti Fuels Co. LLC, a subsidiary of Navajo Transitional Energy Co. LLC, became the new contract operator for Navajo Mine on Jan. 1, NTEC announced last week. Bisti takes over from BHP Billiton, the mine’s former owner before it was sold to the Navajo Nation.
Bisti is a subsidiary of The North American Coal Corp.
“Since announcing that NTEC and North American Coal signed a contract mining agreement in December 2015, NTEC and North American Coal have worked hard to prepare for the transition that occurred on Jan. 1,” said NTEC CEO Clark Moseley in a press release. “During this time, NTEC and North American Coal have achieved much and learned to work in a collaborative manner.”
Navajo Mine employs 340 people, most of whom are Navajo.
“We believe this new contract mining relationship will help to ensure the Navajo Nation continues to receive significant coal royalties and revenues for the coming years,” Moseley said.
NTEC expects to mine an estimated 6 million tons of coal per year during the term of the 15-year contract with North American Coal. The coal is sold to Four Corners Power Plant, NTEC’s sole customer.
“The transition of the role of NTEC’s contract miner from BHP Billiton to North American Coal is another example of NTEC’s ability to effectively engage with business interests that operate on a national and global scale to secure jobs and revenue for the Navajo Nation and its people,” said Steve Gunderson, NTEC’s board chairman. “NTEC continues to make strides that demonstrate both our strength and resilience as Navajo people.”
NTEC was created in 2013 to purchase Navajo Mine from BHP Billiton. The move secured the future of more than 700 workers at Navajo Mine and Four Corners Power Plant.
The North American Coal Corp. mines coal primarily for use in power generation and provides selected value-added mining services for other natural resource companies. North American Coal is a subsidiary of NACCO Industries, Inc., an operating holding company headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, with subsidiaries in mining, small appliances, and specialty retail.
NAVAJO TIMES | ADRON GARDNER
Sunset over Zuni
Clouds glow red as the sun sets over the Zuni mountains in McGaffey on Jan. 5. Predictions for the weekend include rain and snow.