Westmoreland Resource Partners, LP (NYSE: WMLP) operates as a master limited partnership focused on the production and sale of coal from underground and surface mines primarily in the United States. The company produces thermal coal and metallurgical coal for sale to utility companies, industrial customers, and international markets; it also engages in coal sales and trading activities through its subsidiaries. Westmoreland Resource Partners owns and operates mines in Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, with key assets including the Coal Valley Mine in Canada (prior to divestitures) and domestic operations serving the electric power generation and industrial sectors.
Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, the partnership targets customers in the U.S. Midwest and Northeast power generation markets, as well as select metallurgical end-users. Its business segments encompass coal production, coal sales, and transportation services via affiliated entities, with a historical emphasis on bituminous coal reserves estimated at over 100 million tons recoverable.
In recent years, Westmoreland Resource Partners underwent significant restructuring, including emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018 following financial distress from market conditions and operational challenges. The company completed the sale of its Canadian coal assets in 2020 to focus on U.S. operations; pursued strategic debt refinancing in 2022 amid rising energy demands; and announced a merger agreement in late 2024 with a private investment group led by affiliates of Westmoreland Mining LLC, aiming to delist from NYSE and transition to private ownership by early 2025. These moves reflect a shift toward operational optimization, cost reduction, and long-term sustainability in a transitioning energy landscape.