HALLADOR ENERGY CO (HNRG)
SIC breadcrumb: Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services > Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services > SIC 4911 Electric Services
SEC company page: https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=788965. Latest filing source: 0001104659-26-027174.
Informational only - descriptive public-record data, not investment advice.
Business
Read HNRG's verbatim Item 1 Business section from its latest 10-K: Business.
Risk Factors
Read HNRG's verbatim Item 1A Risk Factors from its latest 10-K: Risk Factors.
Selected Fundamentals
| Metric | Value | Unit | FY | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 469,466,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-03-12 |
| Net income | 41,871,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-03-12 |
| Assets | 408,053,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-03-12 |
Financials
Annual standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-03-12. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0000788965.json. Derived margins, ratios, and free cash flow are computed from the extracted annual SEC facts.
| Metric | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 281,450,000 | 271,633,000 | 293,557,000 | 323,462,000 | 244,241,000 | 247,666,000 | 361,991,000 | 634,878,000 | 404,159,000 | 469,466,000 | |||||
| Net income | 12,510,000 | 33,076,000 | 7,621,000 | -59,854,000 | -6,220,000 | -3,754,000 | 18,105,000 | 44,793,000 | -226,138,000 | 41,871,000 | |||||
| Operating income | 3,098,000 | -6,044,000 | 30,430,000 | 65,012,000 | -218,391,000 | 61,056,000 | |||||||||
| Diluted EPS | 0.78 | 1.25 | 0.83 | 0.78 | 0.34 | -0.12 | 0.55 | 1.25 | -5.72 | 0.96 | |||||
| Operating cash flow | 60,918,000 | 65,771,000 | 51,570,000 | 38,243,000 | 52,576,000 | 47,974,000 | 54,169,000 | 59,414,000 | 65,934,000 | 81,134,000 | |||||
| Capital expenditures | 34,714,000 | 32,995,000 | 35,533,000 | 20,688,000 | 28,050,000 | 54,020,000 | 75,352,000 | 53,367,000 | 69,215,000 | ||||||
| Assets | 531,323,000 | 518,193,000 | 515,499,000 | 425,627,000 | 384,130,000 | 353,980,000 | 630,554,000 | 589,780,000 | 369,120,000 | 408,053,000 | |||||
| Liabilities | 314,433,000 | 268,870,000 | 256,625,000 | 230,097,000 | 194,870,000 | 167,745,000 | 415,530,000 | 321,192,000 | 264,835,000 | 248,220,000 | |||||
| Stockholders' equity | 216,890,000 | 249,323,000 | 254,874,000 | 191,530,000 | 185,260,000 | 182,235,000 | 215,024,000 | 268,588,000 | 104,285,000 | 159,833,000 | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 9,788,000 | 12,483,000 | 15,502,000 | 8,799,000 | 8,041,000 | 2,546,000 | 3,009,000 | 2,842,000 | 7,232,000 | 10,070,000 | |||||
| Free cash flow | 2,710,000 | 31,888,000 | 19,924,000 | 149,000 | -15,938,000 | 12,567,000 | 11,919,000 |
Ratios
| Metric | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net margin | 4.44% | 12.18% | 2.60% | -18.50% | -2.55% | -1.52% | 5.00% | 7.06% | -55.95% | 8.92% | |||||
| Operating margin | 1.27% | -2.44% | 8.41% | 10.24% | -54.04% | 13.01% | |||||||||
| Return on equity | 5.77% | 13.27% | 2.99% | -31.25% | -3.36% | -2.06% | 8.42% | 16.68% | -216.85% | 26.20% | |||||
| Return on assets | 2.35% | 6.38% | 1.48% | -14.06% | -1.62% | -1.06% | 2.87% | 7.59% | -61.26% | 10.26% | |||||
| Liabilities / equity | 1.45 | 1.08 | 1.01 | 1.20 | 1.05 | 0.92 | 1.93 | 1.20 | 2.54 | 1.55 | |||||
| Current ratio | 1.70 | 1.25 | 1.64 | 1.27 | 0.89 | 0.61 | 0.58 | 0.59 | 0.69 | 0.81 |
Industry Peer Context
Net margin peer context
Operating margin peer context
ROE peer context
ROA peer context
Financial Bridges
Free cash flow = operating cash flow - capital expenditures
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts FY 2025. Operating cash flow: accession 0001104659-26-027174; concept NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; source concepts us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities | Capital expenditures: accession 0001104659-26-027174; concept PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment; source concepts us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment | Free cash flow: accession 0001104659-26-027174; concept NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities - PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment; source concepts us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
Financial Charts
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027174; filed 2026-03-12. Concept: Revenues. Source concepts: us-gaap:Revenues.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027174; filed 2026-03-12. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027174; filed 2026-03-12. Concept: OperatingIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:OperatingIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027174; filed 2026-03-12. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027174; filed 2026-03-12. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027174; filed 2026-03-12. Concept: PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027174; filed 2026-03-12. Concept: Assets. Source concepts: us-gaap:Assets.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027174; filed 2026-03-12. Concept: Liabilities. Source concepts: us-gaap:Liabilities.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027174; filed 2026-03-12. Concept: StockholdersEquity. Source concepts: us-gaap:StockholdersEquity.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027174; filed 2026-03-12. Concept: CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue. Source concepts: us-gaap:CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001104659-26-027174; filed 2026-03-12. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities - PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment.
Quarterly
Quarterly standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-05-06. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0000788965.json.
| Quarter | End Date | Revenue | Net Income | Diluted EPS | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-Q2 | 2014-06-30 | 0.10 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2014-Q3 | 2014-09-30 | -0.20 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q1 | 2023-03-31 | 0.61 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q2 | 2023-06-30 | 161,194,000 | 16,915,000 | 0.47 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2023-Q3 | 2023-09-30 | 165,768,000 | 16,075,000 | 0.44 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2023-Q4 | 2023-12-31 | 119,184,000 | -10,248,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2024-Q1 | 2024-03-31 | 109,672,000 | -1,696,000 | -0.05 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q2 | 2024-06-30 | 90,914,000 | -10,204,000 | -0.27 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q3 | 2024-09-30 | 105,044,000 | 1,554,000 | 0.04 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q4 | 2024-12-31 | 94,219,000 | -215,792,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2025-Q1 | 2025-03-31 | 117,787,000 | 9,979,000 | 0.23 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q2 | 2025-06-30 | 102,889,000 | 8,248,000 | 0.19 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q3 | 2025-09-30 | 146,846,000 | 23,884,000 | 0.55 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q4 | 2025-12-31 | 101,944,000 | -240,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2026-Q1 | 2026-03-31 | 101,807,000 | -9,321,000 | -0.20 | reported discrete quarter |
Quarterly Charts
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-03-31; accession 0001104659-26-056375; filed 2026-05-06. Concept: Revenues. Source concepts: us-gaap:Revenues.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-03-31; accession 0001104659-26-056375; filed 2026-05-06. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-03-31; accession 0001104659-26-056375; filed 2026-05-06. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.
Macro Cross-References
- CPIAUCSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average
- UNRATE - Unemployment Rate
- FEDFUNDS - Federal Funds Effective Rate
- CES0500000003 - Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Total Private
- DFEDTARU - Federal Funds Target Range - Upper Limit
- DFEDTARL - Federal Funds Target Range - Lower Limit
- DGS3MO - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 3-Month Constant Maturity
- DGS2 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 2-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS10 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 10-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS30 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 30-Year Constant Maturity
- T10Y2Y - 10-Year Treasury Constant Maturity Minus 2-Year Treasury Constant Maturity
- CPILFESL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items Less Food and Energy
- CPIUFDSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Food
- CPIENGSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Energy
- CUSR0000SAH1 - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Shelter
- PCEPI - Personal Consumption Expenditures: Chain-type Price Index
- PCEPILFE - Personal Consumption Expenditures Excluding Food and Energy: Chain-type Price Index
- PPIACO - Producer Price Index by Commodity: All Commodities
- T10YIE - 10-Year Breakeven Inflation Rate
- U6RATE - Total Unemployed, Plus All Marginally Attached Workers Plus Total Employed Part Time for Economic Reasons
- PAYEMS - All Employees, Total Nonfarm
- CIVPART - Labor Force Participation Rate
- EMRATIO - Employment-Population Ratio
- UNEMPLOY - Unemployed
- CE16OV - Employment Level
- ICSA - Initial Claims
- JTSJOL - Job Openings: Total Nonfarm
- JTSQUR - Quits: Total Nonfarm
- GDPC1 - Real Gross Domestic Product
- A191RL1Q225SBEA - Real Gross Domestic Product: Percent Change from Preceding Period
- INDPRO - Industrial Production: Total Index
- TCU - Capacity Utilization: Total Index
- HOUST - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Started: Total Units
- PERMIT - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Authorized in Permit-Issuing Places: Total Units
- RSAFS - Advance Retail Sales: Retail Trade
- PCE - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- DSPIC96 - Real Disposable Personal Income
- PSAVERT - Personal Saving Rate
- M2SL - M2
- BOPGSTB - U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: Balance
- MSPUS - Median Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States
- HSN1F - New One Family Houses Sold: United States
- RHORUSQ156N - Homeownership Rate in the United States
- TTLCONS - Total Construction Spending: Total Construction in the United States
- RRVRUSQ156N - Rental Vacancy Rate in the United States
- TOTALSL - Total Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- REVOLSL - Revolving Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- DRCCLACBS - Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks
- GDP - Gross Domestic Product
- GPDI - Gross Private Domestic Investment
- GCE - Government Consumption Expenditures and Gross Investment
- PCEC - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- NETEXP - Net Exports of Goods and Services
- GFDEBTN - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt
- GFDEGDQ188S - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt as Percent of Gross Domestic Product
- FYFSD - Federal Surplus or Deficit
- FGRECPT - Federal Government Current Receipts
- FGEXPND - Federal Government: Current Expenditures
- MANEMP - All Employees, Manufacturing
- USCONS - All Employees, Construction
- USTRADE - All Employees, Retail Trade
- USFIRE - All Employees, Financial Activities
- USGOVT - All Employees, Government
- AWHAETP - Average Weekly Hours of All Employees, Total Private
- DGORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Durable Goods
- NEWORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Nondefense Capital Goods Excluding Aircraft
- BUSINV - Total Business Inventories
- EXPGS - Exports of Goods and Services
- IMPGS - Imports of Goods and Services
- IR - Import Price Index (End Use): All Commodities
- PPIFIS - Producer Price Index by Commodity: Final Demand
Latest quarter (10-Q)
Latest 10-Q source: 0001104659-26-056375.
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis, which should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the discussion and analysis included in our 2025 10-K, is intended to assist in providing an understanding of changes in our results of operations and financial condition and is organized as follows:
•Forward-Looking Statements. This section provides a description of certain factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from anticipated results or events.
•Overview. This section provides a general description of our business and recent events.
•Material Changes in Results of Operations. This section provides an analysis of our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025.
•Material Changes in Financial Condition. This section provides an analysis of our liquidity and our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.
The capitalized terms used below have been defined in the notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements. In the following text, the terms “we,” “our,” “the Company” and “us” may refer, as the context requires, to Hallador Energy Company (“Hallador”) or collectively to Hallador and its subsidiaries.
Unless otherwise indicated, operational data is presented as of March 31, 2026.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements and information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may constitute “forward-looking statements.” These statements are based on our beliefs as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to us. When used in this document, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “may,” “project,” “will,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, all statements relating to our future outlook, anticipated capital expenditures, future cash flows and borrowings and sources of funding are forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to numerous assumptions that we believe are open to a wide range of uncertainties and business risks, and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in these statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements are:
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| • | changes in macroeconomic and market conditions and market volatility, and the impact of such changes and volatility on our financial position; |
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| • | fluctuations in weather, natural gas and electricity commodity costs, inflation and economic conditions that impact demand of our customers and our operating results; |
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| • | the outcome or escalation of current international hostilities; |
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| • | changes in competition, or changes in electricity, natural gas or coal prices, demand, and availability which could affect our operating results and cash flows; |
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| • | risks associated with the expansion of our operations and properties; |
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| • | risks relating to Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s (“MISO”) Expedited Resource Addition Study (“ERAS”) program review and approval process; |
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| • | risks relating to our ability to secure agreements in support of the development and construction of planned projects, including the expansion of the Merom Generating Station through the ERAS program; |
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| • | legislation, regulations, administrative actions (e.g., executive orders), and court decisions and interpretations thereof, including those relating to the environment and the release of greenhouse gases (“GHG”), mining, miner health and safety, and health care, as well as those relating to data privacy protection; |
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Table of Contents
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| • | deregulation of the electric utility industry or the effects of any adverse change in the coal industry, electric utility industry, or general economic conditions; |
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| • | dependence on significant or long-term customer contracts, including renewing customer contracts upon expiration of existing contracts; |
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| • | changes in the geopolitical environment in industries in which our customers operate; |
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| • | changes in attitude toward environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) matters among regulators, investors and parties with which we do business; |
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| • | the effect of changes in taxes or tariffs and other trade measures, including uncertainty regarding tariffs on imports into the United States, which could impact the Company’s procurement and sourcing strategies; |
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| • | risks relating to inflation and increasing interest rates; |
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| • | liquidity constraints, including due to restrictions contained in our debt agreements or other arrangements and those resulting from any future unavailability of financing; |
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| • | customer bankruptcies, a decline in customer creditworthiness, or customer cancellations or breaches to existing contracts, including failures to make payments when due; |
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| • | customer delays or failure to take coal or electricity under contracts; |
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| • | adjustments made in price, volume or terms to existing coal or electricity contracts; |
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| • | our productivity levels and margins earned on our coal or electricity sales; |
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| • | supply chain disruptions and changes in equipment, raw material, service or labor costs or availability, including due to inflationary pressures; |
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| • | changes in the availability of skilled labor; |
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| • | our ability to maintain satisfactory relations with our employees; |
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| • | increases in labor costs, adverse changes in work rules, or cash payments or projections associated with workers’ compensation claims; |
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| • | increases in transportation costs and risk of transportation delays or interruptions; |
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| • | operational interruptions due to geologic, permitting, labor, weather-related or other factors, including challenges in operating an aging coal-fired power plant; |
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| • | risks associated with major mine-related or other accidents, mine fires, mine floods or other interruptions, including unanticipated operating conditions and other events that are not within our control; |
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| • | results of litigation, including claims not yet asserted; |
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| • | difficulty maintaining our surety bonds for mine reclamation; |
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| • | decline in or change in the coal industry’s share of electricity generation, including as a result of environmental concerns related to coal mining and combustion and the cost and perceived benefits of other sources of electricity, such as natural gas, nuclear energy, and renewable fuels; |
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| • | risks resulting from natural disasters; |
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| • | difficulty in making accurate assumptions and projections regarding landfill and mine reclamation; |
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| • | uncertainties in estimating and replacing our coal reserves; |
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| • | the impact of current and potential changes to federal or state tax rules and regulations, including the effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”) or a loss or reduction of benefits from certain tax deductions and credits; |
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| • | difficulty obtaining commercial property insurance; |
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| • | evolving cybersecurity risks, such as those involving unauthorized access, denial-of-service attacks, malicious software, data privacy breaches by employees, insiders or others with authorized access, cyber or phishing-attacks, ransomware, malware, social engineering, physical breaches or other actions; |
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| • | difficulty in making accurate assumptions and projections regarding future revenues and costs associated with equity investments in companies we do not control; and |
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| • | other factors, including those discussed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2025 Form 10-K. |
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Table of Contents
If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may differ materially from those described in any forward-looking statement. When considering forward-looking statements, you should also keep in mind the risk factors described in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2025 Form 10-K. The risk factors could also cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. We disclaim any obligation to update the above list or to announce publicly the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments, unless required by law.
You should consider the information above when reading any forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q; other reports filed by us with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”); our press releases; our website www.halladorenergy.com and written or oral statements made by us or any of our officers or other authorized persons acting on our behalf.
OVERVIEW
General
Hallador is a vertically integrated, independent power producer (“IPP”) and fuel company with operations primarily in Indiana. The Company operates across multiple stages of the energy supply chain, from accredited capacity and energy to coal. The Company’s electric operations are located within the MISO footprint. Our operations include Hallador Power which provides accredited capacity and energy to utilities and other energy market participants through its MISO interconnection, and Sunrise which mines bituminous coal in Indiana to serve various power plants in the Midwest and Southeast United States.
Operations
Our business is organized based on the services and products we provide in two segments: (i) Electric Operations and (ii) Coal Operations. The Company also holds 50% interests in Sunrise Energy, LLC (“Sunrise Energy”) and Oaktown Gas, LLC (“Oaktown Gas”), which are accounted for using the equity method. Through its operating subsidiaries, the Company delivers three main products to its customers.
Accredited Capacity. Hallador Power, the Company’s wholly-owned electric subsidiary, owns and operates the Merom Power Plant (“Merom”), a 1,080 MW coal-fired power generating st
[Excerpt truncated for page length; source filing is linked above.]
Latest 10-K MD&A
MD&A history
Prior-year 10-K MD&A spans are extracted from SEC filings with the same bounded parser used for the latest filing. The latest 10-K appears above; prior years are below.
FY 2024 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001558370-25-003141.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
Our consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with this discussion. The following analysis includes a discussion of metrics on a per mega-watt hour (MWh) and per ton and basis as derived from the consolidated financial statements, which are considered non-GAAP measurements. These metrics are significant factors in assessing our operating results and profitability.
OVERVIEW
Hallador Energy Company (the “Company” or “Hallador”) is an energy company operating in the state of Indiana. Our wholly owned subsidiary Hallador Power, operates our Merom Power Plant ("Merom"), a one gigawatt (“GW”) power plant located in Sullivan County, Indiana. Merom is located in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s ("MISO") footprint.
We also mine coal in the State of Indiana through our wholly-owned subsidiary Sunrise Coal, LLC (“Sunrise”), serving the electric power generation industry. During the fourth quarter of 2024, we completed our review of the coal mining facilities and future mining plans. The impairment analysis was based upon our finalized coal mining operating plans, market driven pricing and cost trends. As part of that analysis, we determined the carrying amount of our coal mining long-lived asset group was not recoverable and recorded a non-cash, long-lived asset impairment charge of $215.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. See “Note 19 – Impairment of Coal Properties” to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-K for further information on the impairment analysis.
Our business is organized based on the services and products we provide in two segments: (i) Electric Operations and (ii) Coal Operations. The Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”), who is the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, reviews and assesses operating performance measures related to our Electric Operations and our Coal Operations segments. In addition to these reportable segments, the Company has a “Corporate and Other and Eliminations” category, which is not significant enough, on a stand-alone basis, to be considered an operating segment. Corporate and Other and Eliminations primarily consist of unallocated corporate costs and activities, including a 50% interest in Sunrise Energy LLC and Oaktown Gas, LLC, which are accounted for using the equity method.
Throughout 2024, we made progress on transitioning Hallador Energy from a bituminous coal producer to an integrated independent power producer (“IPP”). This strategic transition has been a deliberate response to market signals and what we believe to be the superior economics of the IPP business model. As such, our focus remains on maximizing the value of Merom while actively seeking opportunities to acquire additional dispatchable generators. We have also prioritized building strong relationships with counterparties to secure favorable terms for collateral, enabling us to effectively leverage forward power sales in 2025 to offset pricing volatility in the spot market. This approach enhances our financial flexibility and strengthens our position in the evolving energy market.
In the fall of 2024, we reached a key milestone in our IPP transformation by signing a non-binding term sheet with a leading global data center developer for the supply of a significant portion of Merom's output of capacity and energy for well over a decade. As evidenced by our announcement of an exclusivity agreement with this development partner in January 2025, we are continuing to make progress as we seek to finalize a definitive agreement. As we have previously disclosed, the exclusivity period runs through the beginning of June 2025, in exchange for payments from the developer to Hallador Power of up to $5.0 million, depending on if and when a definitive agreement is finalized. This type of deal is complex and involves multiple parties, which adds time and challenges to negotiations. Despite these challenges, we remain encouraged by our partners and the steady progress that we continue to make. Our pursuit of this agreement further demonstrates our commitment towards forging a strategic partnership that we believe will create significant value for our shareholders for years to come. The completion of this proposed transaction is subject to, among other matters, the negotiation and execution of definitive agreements and there can be no assurance that definitive agreements will be entered into or that the proposed transaction will be consummated on the terms or timeframe currently contemplated, or at all.
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We continue to witness the prevalent industry trend of retiring dispatchable generators, including coal, in favor of non-dispatchable resources such as wind and solar. We believe this transition from dispatchable to non-dispatchable generation made the attributes of our subsidiary, Hallador Power, much more valuable due to the enhanced reliability that we provide versus non-dispatchable generators. However, we believe the retirement of coal-based generation and lower natural gas prices could reduce the demand for coal supply, potentially lowering the value of Sunrise. During 2024, in response to declining coal demand, we reduced our coal production volume by approximately 40% and idled the higher cost surface mines. This optimization of coal production reduced our operational cash cost structure and better aligned our coal strategy to primarily support our internal electric generation.
Merom can produce up to 6.0 million Mega-Watthours (“MWh”) annually. The forward power price curves indicate that the margins earned on energy produced at Merom and the value of the accredited capacity sales assigned to the plant continues to increase. We are seeing strong indications for both energy and capacity sales in 2025 and beyond, especially considering our negotiations related to supporting data center development within the State of Indiana. In addition, while we largely held to our traditional approach of selling energy through bespoke bi-lateral agreements on a unit or plant contingent basis, during 2024 we sold a limited amount of power on a firm basis. While we continue to limit these types of firm sales to mitigate risk and wait for higher priced contracts to take effect, we will strategically utilize them to smooth our exposure to the spot market. This approach enables us to capture some of the episodic cash generation driven by demand from extreme weather and various other conditions stressing the power grid while limiting our exposure to periods of mild weather and lower demand.
In 2024, the ongoing surplus of natural gas in the market and mild weather patterns continued to moderate energy prices throughout the year and kept spot energy prices weak. We began to see favorable pricing signals at the end of the fourth quarter of 2024 and subsequent to year-end.
The ability to store a commodity is inherently tied to the volatility of that commodity. Coal can be piled up for years, thus its volatility is low. Oil and natural gas face transportation and storage challenges which increase price volatility. The limitations of storing viable energy, coupled with non-dispatchable generation gaining market share in an environment where there is unpredictability in the weather, indicates to us that energy's price volatility is likely to increase over the next decade. This volatility will keep the forward power price premium intact.
We are excited by the opportunity for Hallador Power to capture higher prices and energy volumes in 2025 and beyond compared to what we have historically achieved in our relatively short ownership tenure of Merom. In 2024, we sold 4.2 million MWh at an average sales price of approximately $48.62 per MWh. At the start of the year, we had 1.9 million MWh contracted, leaving us with significant exposure to the spot electricity market. Heading into 2025, we have contracted approximately 4.3 million MWh at an average price of $37.24 per MWh, which should help to smooth our exposure to the spot market. For 2026, we have already contracted 3.4 million MWh at $44.43 per MWh. Following 2026, we are optimistic that we can sell energy at higher prices in support of data center development and/or to traditional wholesale customers in line with the indicators of a higher forward curve. The tables included below highlight some of the revenue and margin improvements we have seen in our forward contracted power sales for 2025 and thereafter. These tables do not include the significantly higher prices that we are expecting if we are able to finalize our agreements in support of data center development.
In addition to the transaction we are negotiating with Merom, we continue to evaluate other strategic transactions that could add durability, scale, and geographic expansion opportunities to our electric operations. While these types of deals are limited and complex, we believe that Hallador is uniquely positioned to transform retiring and/or underperforming assets into future opportunities. This will enable us to supply high demand end users, such as data centers and on-shored industrial customers, with minimal impact to retail consumers, unlike a traditional utility siphoning off consumer power to serve these types of large load end-users. By continuing the operations of the dispatchable plants to support large load industrial users as the utilities transition to non-dispatchable generation, the new generation becomes additive to the already struggling grid rather than cannibalizing the overall reliability of what exists today. We are optimistic about the potential to add to our strategic portfolio and the long-term benefits that such a transaction could produce for the Company, its shareholders and its customers. This model for growth enables us to shift from transactional pricing related to plant acquisition, to traditional wholesale market pricing, and ultimately to the enhanced pricing associated with supporting data centers and other large load end users.
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In the first quarter of 2024, we announced a restructuring of our Coal Operations to address the increase in costs we experienced at our mines. See “Note 17 – Organizational Restructuring” to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-K for further information. We spent much of the year adjusting to this restructuring to optimize production, headcount, and strategy to best support our Electric Operations and our existing third-party coal contracts. By reducing headcount, focusing production on our most profitable mines and units within those mines, and improving our infrastructure and processes within those favored units, we were able to both slow the impact of rapidly increasing costs and reduce costs to better support the continued operations of our mines.
Historically, Sunrise has produced between four and six million tons annually. As we continue to optimize the mines in support of the plant, we expect to produce approximately 3.6 million tons of coal in 2025, with approximately 2.3 million tons produced directed to support our Electric Operations. We have also secured supplemental coal from third party suppliers at favorable prices to diversify self-production supply risk and to provide us additional flexibility in our sales portfolio and to fulfill future sales obligations to third-parties and Merom as shown in the table below. The optionality to obtain low-cost tons either internally or from third parties while capturing upward swings in the commodity markets for coal should further maximize margins while optimizing fuels costs at Merom.
We remain excited about the continued and deliberate transformation of Hallador from a commodity focused producer of coal to an IPP. We believe this transition provides significant opportunity to capture the expanding margins of the energy markets and capitalize on the soaring demand for electricity. We are pleased by the strong interest we continue to see from potential counterparties in our energy and capacity offerings, bolstered by Indiana’s efforts to attract data centers and other high-density power users through its business-friendly climate and favorable tax policies. With the continued growth of our sales book, coupled with our ongoing focus to transition our operations to primarily electricity generation, we believe we are well positioned to materially strengthen our opportunities for growth and cash flow generation.
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Solid Forward Sales Position - Segment Basis, Before Intercompany Eliminations
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | Total | ||||||||||||
| Power | | | | | | | ||||||||||||
| Energy | | | | | | | ||||||||||||
| Contracted MWh (in millions) | | 4.25 | | 3.36 | | 1.78 | | 1.09 | | 0.27 | | 10.75 | ||||||
| Average contracted price per MWh | | $ | 37.24 | | $ | 44.43 | | $ | 54.66 | | $ | 52.94 | | $ | 51.33 | | | |
| Contracted revenue (in millions) | | $ | 158.27 | | $ | 149.28 | | $ | 97.29 | | $ | 57.70 | | $ | 13.86 | | $ | 476.40 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Capacity | | | | | | | ||||||||||||
| Average daily contracted capacity MWh | | 773 | | 727 | | 623 | | 454 | | 100 | | | ||||||
| Average contracted capacity price per MWd | | $ | 201 | | $ | 230 | | $ | 226 | | $ | 225 | | $ | 230 | | | |
| Contracted capacity revenue (in millions) | | $ | 55.95 | | $ | 61.12 | | $ | 51.40 | | $ | 37.33 | | $ | 3.47 | | $ | 209.27 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total Energy & Capacity Revenue | | | | | | | ||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Contracted Power revenue (in millions) | | $ | 214.22 | | $ | 210.40 | | $ | 148.69 | | $ | 95.03 | | $ | 17.33 | | $ | 685.67 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Coal | | | | | | | ||||||||||||
| Priced tons - 3rd party (in millions) | | 2.95 | | 2.50 | | 2.50 | | 0.50 | | — | | 8.45 | ||||||
| Avg price per ton - 3rd party | | $ | 51.04 | | $ | 55.49 | | $ | 56.74 | | $ | 59.00 | | $ | — | | | |
| Contracted coal revenue - 3rd party (in millions) | | $ | 150.57 | | $ | 138.73 | | $ | 141.85 | | $ | 29.50 | | $ | — | | $ | 460.65 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| TOTAL CONTRACTED REVENUE (IN MILLIONS) - CONSOLIDATED | | $ | 364.79 | | $ | 349.13 | | $ | 290.54 | | $ | 124.53 | | $ | 17.33 | | $ | 1,146.32 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Priced tons - Intercompany (in millions) | | 2.30 | | 2.30 | | 2.30 | | 2.30 | | — | | 9.20 | ||||||
| Avg price per ton - Intercompany | | $ | 51.00 | | $ | 51.00 | | $ | 51.00 | | $ | 51.00 | | $ | — | | | |
| Contracted coal revenue - Intercompany (in millions) | | $ | 117.30 | | $ | 117.30 | | $ | 117.30 | | $ | 117.30 | | $ | — | | $ | 469.20 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| TOTAL CONTRACTED REVENUE (IN MILLIONS) - SEGMENT | | $ | 482.09 | | $ | 466.43 | | $ | 407.84 | | $ | 241.83 | | $ | 17.33 | | $ | 1,615.52 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| * | Actual revenue related to solid forward sales positions may differ materially for various reasons, including price adjustment features for coal quality and cost escalations, volume optionality provisions and potential force majeure events. |
Electric Operations
Internal Controls Disclosure
Our electric operations employ third party service providers for the day-to-day operations and maintenance of Merom as well as managing market transactions and optimizing plant dispatch. We contract with Consolidated Asset Management Services (“CAMS”) to manage ongoing operations, maintenance and asset management functions at Merom. CAMS provides an operations and maintenance program which includes daily management of plant performance, safety protocols and workforce management. CAMS develops and implements predictive and preventative maintenance schedules designed to maximize plant availability and maintain compliance with environmental and regulatory standards. In coordination with our engineering teams, CAMS identifies and manages capital projects that aim to improve operational efficiency and reduce long-term costs. CAMS also provides performance monitoring and reporting. CAMS provides regular reports on key performance indicators (“KPIs”) such as heat rates and forced outage rates to help us assess plant efficiency. CAMS assists in ensuring adherence to local, state and federal regulations including
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environmental rules and safety mandates. We maintain oversight of CAMS through regular audits and performance reviews, confirming all procedures align with our company policies and best practices.
We engage with Alliance for Cooperative Energy Services Power Marketing, LLC (“ACES”), as our agent to manage our wholesale power market activities and risk management strategies related to electric operations. Through this relationship, ACES manages the dispatch and scheduling on the real-time and day-ahead markets. ACES manages bidding strategies, scheduling our generation in the relevant regional transmission organizations (“RTOs”) or independent system operators (“ISOs”). To optimize our sales portfolio, ACES analyzes energy market dynamics, identifies opportunities to optimize plant dispatch, and recommends operational adjustments to capture favorable margins. ACES assists in risk management by executing short-term trades on our behalf to mitigate price volatility and lock in predictable revenues as well as ensures that our participation in the energy markets adheres to relevant market rules and regulations. We receive regular risk reports and settlement statements, which our internal teams review to confirm accuracy and compliance with our company policies.
We regularly review the performance and controls of CAMS and ACES. Our formal review processes include monthly performance reviews through joint meetings with CAMS and ACES to evaluate KPI trends, discuss operational challenges, and plan market strategies. Periodic internal and external audits examine environmental, safety, and financial compliance, ensuring third-party activities align with regulatory standards and Company objectives. We also have a risk committee that evaluates all marketing activities and exposures.
Merom operates under permits issued by various agencies. CAMS provides support and expertise to ensure compliance with emissions requirements, water use regulations, and waste disposal guidelines. The power markets we operate in periodically update their rules and tariffs, which may affect how we dispatch our plants or manage financial positions. ACES continuously monitors changes, recommending updates to our strategies as needed.
Volatility in wholesale power prices can impact revenue. ACES provides strategies to mitigate price risk.
Equipment failures or unexpected downtime at coal plants can lead to missed market opportunities or contractual liabilities. Our relationship with CAMS is designed to minimize these risks through comprehensive operations and maintenance practices. Future environmental or market regulations may require capital investments or shift market behavior. Our teams, in conjunction with CAMS and ACES, monitor emerging policies to proactively plan operational or strategic adjustments.
Property
Through Hallador Power, the Company owns and operates Merom, a 1,080 MW net coal fired power generating station, consisting of two 590 MW sub-critical water tube drum type steam turbine generators. Unit 1 entered commercial operations in 1982 and Unit 2 in 1983. The units are dispatched to the MISO interconnection. Hallador Power sells wholesale energy and accredited capacity to utilities within the MISO system through PPA’s and other bilateral transactions. Merom is located in Sullivan County, Indiana, on approximately 691 acres, which also holds a 112-acre landfill. Hallador Power has two tracts under option for approximately 72 acres for expansion and future development at Merom. Merom is about twenty miles from Sunrise’s Oaktown Mining Complex and has rail and truck access. The Company acquired Merom from Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. in 2022.
| | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Year Ended December 31, | |||
| | 2024 | 2023 | |||
| Power Capacity and Utilization | | ||||
| Nameplate capacity (MW)(i) | 1,080 | 1,080 | | ||
| Accredited capacity for the period (MW)(ii) | 823 | 860 | | ||
| Accredited capacity utilization(iii) | 49 | % | 45 | % |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| i. | Nameplate capacity for the Merom Power Plant refers to the maximum electric output generated by the plant in the period presented and may not reflect actual production. Actual production each period varies based on weather conditions, operational conditions, and other factors. |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ii. | Accredited capacity is based on MISO’s average seasonal accreditations for the year. Average seasonal accreditations were 808 MW and 838 MW per day for 2024 and 2023, respectively. Accreditations are weighted and adjusted annually based on 3-year rolling performance metrics. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| iii. | Accredited capacity utilization is measured as power produced (MWh) divided by accredited capacity for the period (MW) multiplied by 24 times the number of days for the period. |
Permits are required by federal and state law for Merom’s facilities and landfill. Merom holds several construction and environmental permits for air, wastewater and solids waste disposal. All necessary permits to support current operations are in place. New permits or permit revisions may be necessary from time to time to facilitate future operations or to keep pace with the changing regulatory landscape. Given sufficient time and planning, we should be able to secure new permits, as required, to maintain our planned operations within the context of the current regulations. Merom continually excels in environmental excellence and compliance.
Permits generally require that the Company post a performance bond in an amount established by the regulator program to: (1) provide assurance that any disturbance or liability created is properly mitigated, and (2) assure that all regulation requirements of the permit are fully satisfied. We hold surety bonds of $9.7 million to cover obligations relating to reclamation at Merom.
Coal Operations
Internal Controls Disclosure
The preparation of coal reserve and resource estimates is conducted by independent individuals who are by virtue of their education, experience and professional association considered qualified persons (as defined in SEC rules). Company personnel meet on an annual basis with the independent qualified person to provide updates to the reserve and resource estimates. Company personnel review the work of the qualified person to ensure such work is prepared in accordance with applicable rules and regulations and that the data and assumptions provided were properly applied to the final reserve and resource model. The Company’s engineering personnel ensure estimates are based on current mine plans, incorporate the most recent drilling and lab data, properly reflect changes in permitting status, consider known encumbrances, and are consistent with operating knowledge and expectations in terms of mining methods, recovery rates, minimum seam heights or maximum strip ratios, and saleable qualities.
An American National Standards Institute-certified third-party laboratory is utilized to support reserve and resource estimates. The laboratory follows standard sample preparation, security, and environmental procedures. In addition, the Company’s qualified person performs independent data verification procedures to ensure data is of sufficient quantity and reliability to reasonably support the coal reserve and resource estimates.
Estimates of any mineral reserve and resources are always subject to a degree of uncertainty. The level of confidence that can be applied to a particular estimate is a function of, among other things, the amount, quality, and completeness of exploration data; geological complexity of the deposit; and economic, legal, social, and environmental factors associated with mining the reserve/resource. The Company’s current coal reserves and resource estimates are based on the best information available and are subject to updates as conditions change. Also refer to "Item 1A. Risk Factors" for discussion of risks associated with the estimates of the Company’s reserves and resources.
Summary of All Mining Properties
The Company has seven total mining properties. These properties are the Oaktown Mining Complex (“Oaktown”), which is comprised of Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine and Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine, the Ace in the Hole Mine, the Ace in the Hole Mine #2 Reserves, Prosperity, Freelandville and Carlisle. Oaktown Fuels No. 2, Prosperity and Freelandville were temporarily idled in February of 2024 as part of the Organizational Restructuring in “Note 17 – Organizational Restructuring” to the Consolidated Financial Statements below. Ace in the Hole Mine and Carlisle are fully depleted.
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The Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine is an underground mine in the Illinois Basin located near Oaktown in Knox County, Indiana. Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine utilizes continuous mining units operating in room and pillar mining techniques to produce high-sulfur coal. The Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine is an underground mine in the Illinois Basin (“ILB”) located near Oaktown in Knox County, Indiana. The Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine utilizes continuous mining units operating in room and pillar mining techniques to produce high-sulfur coal. The preparation plant at Oaktown has a throughput capacity of 1,600 tons of raw coal per hour. Freelandville is a surface mine in the Illinois Basin located near Freelandville in Knox County, Indiana. Freelandville utilizes surface mining techniques to produce high-sulfur coal from as many as three seams. Prosperity is a surface mine in the Illinois Basin located near Petersburg in Pike County, Indiana. Prosperity utilizes surface mining techniques to produce low-sulfur coal. The low-sulfur coal is trucked to the Oaktown and other Sunrise Coal logistic facilities where it is blended with coal from the Oaktown Mines.
These properties and further summaries concerning property description, purpose, property overview, geology, background, processing operations, mine infrastructure, and market analysis can be found and are hereby incorporated by reference from Sections 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.6, 2.1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.1, 7.3, 7.4, 8, 9, and 10 from the March 2025 Technical Report Summary prepared by the John T. Boyd Company, attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 10-K.
The following figure shows the general location of Merom and our mining properties discussed above:
Individual Mining Properties
The following information concerning our mining properties has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K. Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K requires us to disclose our mineral (coal) resources, which we have none, in addition to our mineral (coal) reserves, as of the end of our most recently completed fiscal year both in the aggregate and for each of our individually material mining properties.
As used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the terms “mineral resources,” “mineral reserve,” “proven mineral reserve” and “probable mineral reserve” are defined and used in accordance with subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K. Under subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K, mineral resources may not be classified as “mineral reserves” unless the determination
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has been made by a qualified person (“QP”) that the mineral resources can be the basis of an economically viable project. You are specifically cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits (including any mineral resources) in these categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves, as defined by the SEC.
Internal qualified person(s) have estimated the Company’s mineral reserves and mineral resources based on geologic data, coal ownership (control) information, and current and/or proposed operating plans. Periodic updates occur to mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates attributable to revised mine plans, new exploration data, depletion from coal production, property acquisitions or dispositions, and/or other geologic or mining data. Sunrise’s estimates of mineral reserves are proven and probable reserves that could be extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination, economically, legally, and after considering all material modifying factors. Modifications or updates of the estimates of the Company’s mineral reserves is limited to qualified geologists and mining engineers. All modifications or updates of the estimates of recoverable coal reserves are documented. The John T. Boyd Company, a qualified person firm, has assessed the Company’s estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources and supporting information. Based upon the review, John T. Boyd Company provided modification to the Company’s estimates of mineral reserves where warranted.
The information that follows is derived, for the most part, from, and in some instances is extracted from, the Oaktown Mining Complex technical report summary (“TRS”) from John T. Boyd Company dated March 2025 in accordance with Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K (Coal Resources and Coal Reserves, Oaktown Mining Complex) attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 10-K; and a letter, dated March 7, 2025, from John T. Boyd Company providing an update of estimated coal reserves at the Oaktown Mining Complex as of December 31, 2024, attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this Form 10-K. The Oaktown Mining Complex is the Company’s individually material property. Sections of the following information provided herein do not fully describe assumptions, qualifications, and procedures. Reference should be made to the full text of the TRS which is made a part of this Annual report on Form 10-K and incorporated hereby by reference. The Oaktown Mining Complex TRS was prepared by the John T. Boyd Company in compliance with the Item 60(b)(96) and subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K.
The Company hereby incorporates by reference Section 6.3 "Coal Reserves" from the TRS, attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 10-K, as to the mineral price, cut-off grade, and metallurgical recovery factors utilized in John T. Boyd Company’s preparation of the mineral reserve estimates. The Company hereby incorporates the letter, dated March 7, 2025, from John T. Boyd Company, attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this Form 10-K, providing an update of the Company’s mineral reserves at the Oaktown Mining Complex as of December 31, 2024 and including a comparison of the Company’s mineral reserves at the Oaktown Mining Complex as of December 31, 2024 and as of December 31, 2023. The following table provides a summary of all of the Company’s mineral reserves determined by the John T. Boyd Company as of the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024:
SUMMARY MINERAL RESERVES AT END OF THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Mineral Reserves (tons in millions) | |||||
| | Proven | Probable | Total | |||
| Oaktown | | | | | | |
| Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine | 25.7 | | 2.7 | 28.4 | ||
| Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine | 5.9 | | 0.2 | 6.1 | ||
| Total | 31.6 | 2.9 | 34.5 |
Oaktown Mining Complex
The Oaktown Mining Complex is a coal mining and processing operation located in Knox and Sullivan counties, Indiana, and Crawford and Lawrence counties, Illinois.
Oaktown is an underground Room-and-Pillar (“R&P”) coal mining complex. It is comprised of 83 square miles within the ILB coal-producing region of the mid-western U.S. Oaktown operations currently consists of one active underground mine - Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine - and related infrastructure. Geographically, the Oaktown Complex Coal Preparation
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Plant is located at approximately 28°51’24.7” N latitude and 87°25’30.9” W longitude. Within the Oaktown area and its immediate vicinity, our Company controls approximately 64,000 acres of mineral rights. We have a complex collection of leases that apply to more than 1,000 tracts. Leased tracts range from less than an acre to several hundred acres in size. Ownership of the surface rights and the mineral rights is often severed for the properties and the estates are often fractions, in which mineral rights are split between several owners. The Company and its predecessors have acquired the necessary rights to support development and operations through purchase or lease agreements with predominately private owners or entities. The Company controls surface rights through fee simple ownership for over 1,700 permitted acres, holding mine accesses, processing, storing, shipping, and refuse disposal facilities (i.e., refuse impoundment site and fine refuse injection sites). We acquired Oaktown Fuels No. 1 and No. 2 Mines from Vectren Fuels in 2014.
Oaktown utilizes R&P mining (employing Continuous Miners, or CM) for primary production. This mining method is highly productive and commercially demonstrated; it has been one of the primary approaches to underground mining the Indiana V Seam for decades. Oaktown has utilized this mining method since the inception of each operation. To date, Oaktown has produced a combined 75.0 million tons of clean coal. Oaktown is configured to operate up to 6 CM sections (currently operating 4 CM sections), with an annual production target of approximately 3.6 million tons. The Oaktown Preparation Plant serves as the coal washing and shipment facility for Oaktown’s two R&P mines. The plant was commissioned in 2009 to wash coal by the Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine. The Oaktown Preparation Plant’s processing capacity was upgraded to 1,800 raw tons-per-hour (TPH) from its previous 1,600 raw TPH in 2023. Coal from Oaktown is transported to customers via rail and truck. The Oaktown Preparation Plant is served by both the CSX Railroad and Indiana Railroad (INRD) via a rail spur and rail loop that connects the complex with the mainline rail just north of Oaktown, Indiana.
Additionally, the Oaktown Preparation Plant can facilitate the loading of trucks for direct transport to select customers, or to our transload facility in Princeton, Indiana serviced by the Norfolk Southern (NS) Railroad.
Sources of electrical power, water, supplies, and materials are readily available. Electrical power is provided to the mines and facilities by regional utility companies. Water is supplied by public water services, surface impoundments, or water wells.
Multiple permits are required by federal and state law for underground mining, coal preparation and related facilities, and other incidental activities. All necessary permits to support current operations are in place or pending approval. New permits or permit revisions may be necessary from time to time to facilitate future operations. Given sufficient time and planning, we should be able to secure new permits, as required, to maintain our planned operations within the context of the current regulations.
Permits generally require that the Company post a performance bond in an amount established by the regulator program to: (1) provide assurance that any disturbance or liability created during mining operation is properly mitigated, and (2) assure that all regulation requirements of the permit are fully satisfied. We hold surety bonds of $10.0 million to cover obligations relating to mining and reclamation, road repair, etc. at the Oaktown Mining Complex.
Additional information is provided in the following table regarding Oaktown’s mineral reserves:
OAKTOWN
Recoverable Coal Reserves as of December 31, 2024 and 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | As Received | As Received | | | | | | | | | | | | |||
| | | Heat | | SO2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Value | | Content | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | (Btu/lb) | | (lbs/MMBtu) | | Owned | | Leased | | Recoverable Coal Reserves (As-Received) | ||||||
| Mine/Reserve | Approximate | Approximate | (%) | (%) | Proven | Probable | 12/31/2024 | 12/31/2023 | ||||||||
| Oaktown Mining Complex | ||||||||||||||||
| Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine | 11,630 | | 6.0 | — | 100.0 | 25.7 | | 2.7 | 28.4 | 34.1 | ||||||
| Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine | 11,576 | | 5.0 | — | 100.0 | 5.9 | | 0.2 | 6.1 | 26.6 | ||||||
| Total | | | | | | | | 31.6 | 2.9 | 34.5 | 60.7 |
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Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine
As of December 31, 2024, the assigned and accessible reserve base for the Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine contains 28.4 million tons of recoverable Indiana V seam coal, of which 28.4 million tons are currently permitted. The reserve contains saleable tons which average heating content of approximately 11,630 Btu per pound with approximately 6.0 pounds of sulfur dioxide per MMBtu on an as-received basis. Access to the Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine is via a 90-foot-deep box cut and a 2,200-foot long slope, which facilitates the egress of coals being mined in excess of 375 feet below the surface. Since beginning first commercial coal production in 2009, the mine workings have substantially grown, and an additional mine access (elevator) was constructed for employee and supply ingress/egress closer to the active production faces.
Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine
As of December 31, 2024, the assigned and accessible reserve base for the Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine contains 6.1 million tons of recoverable Indiana V seam coal, of which 5.4 million tons are currently permitted. The reserve contains saleable tons which average heating content of approximately 11,576 Btu per pound with approximately 5.0 pounds of sulfur dioxide per MMBtu on an as-received basis. Access to the Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine is via an 80-foot-deep box cut and 2,600-foot long slope, which facilitates the egress of coals being mined in excess of 400 feet below the surface. In 2021, an additional mine access (elevator) was constructed for employee and supply ingress/egress closer to the active production faces. Oaktown Fuels No. 2 was temporarily idled in February of 2024.
Coal tons are reported on a clean recoverable basis with average long-term pricing based on available third-party forecasts and historical pricing adjusted for quality at the end of 2024, with the coal sales price estimated over the life of the reserve averaging approximately $49 (ranging from $47.25 to $51.47 per ton), which are the coal sales prices used by John T. Boyd Company to estimate the amount of coal mineral reserves for the Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine and Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine as listed above. Coal sales prices vary based on coal quality, access to transportation, and other factors at each location. All reserves are classified as underground mineable in the production stage.
The Company hereby incorporates by reference (i) the TRS, attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 10-K, including Section 6.3 thereof titled "Coal Reserves", as to the recoverable coal reserves reported above for the Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine and Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine; and (ii) letter, dated March 7, 2025, from John T. Boyd Company, attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this Form 10-K, providing an update of the Company’s mineral reserves at Oaktown as of December 31, 2024 and including a comparison of the Company’s mineral reserves at Oaktown as of December 31, 2024 and as of December 31, 2023.
Historical production for Oaktown during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022 are provided in the following table:
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Annual Saleable Production Tons | |||||
| | | (Million Tons) | ||||
| Mine/Reserve | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||
| Oaktown Mining Complex | | | | | | |
| Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine | 3.5 | 3.9 | 3.9 | |||
| Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine | 0.4 | 2.5 | 2.5 | |||
| Total Oaktown Mining Complex Production | 3.9 | 6.4 | 6.4 |
Other Properties
The Company holds other recoverable coal reserves in the ILB, which are not deemed individually material.
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Ace in the Hole Mine (Ace) (surface) – Assigned
Ace Mine is now depleted. Remaining inventory of coal and base was moved to our Oaktown wash plant in early 2023. Reclamation resumed in the Spring of 2023. There are four phases of reclamation that extend through 2029, of which, Phase 1 and 2 were completed as of December 31, 2024.
Prosperity (surface) – Assigned
The Prosperity mine contains approximately 0.2 million tons of low sulfur coal. The mine opened in the summer of 2022. The mine produced coal and reclaimed the slurry pond and refuse pile left by the Prosperity underground mine. Additional reserves are in the area that may extend the life of this mine. In February 2024, this mine was temporarily idled.
Freelandville (surface) – Assigned
Sunrise is a contract miner at the Freelandville East Mine Center Pit, Permit No. S 358. Sunrise had an option through May 31, 2023 to assume the permit that contained approximately 1.7 million tons of salable coal with an additional 0.6 million available. That option was extended from May 2023 until May 2026. Mining started in the fall of 2022 and continued through April 2023 with limited production in 2024. Remaining reserves under the permit are 0.4 million tons. There are additional reserves of 1.2 million tons available with the completion and approval of an Army Corps of Engineers permit. In February 2024, this mine was idled.
Carlisle
The Carlisle mine is located near the town of Carlisle, Indiana in Sullivan County. It became operational in January 2007 for both surface and underground mining. The mine was permanently closed for mining operations in 2020. A wash plant was relocated to the Carlisle mine in 2022 and was sold in 2024.
Our Coal Contracts
In 2024, on a segment basis Sunrise sold 3.9 million tons of coal to 6 power plants in four different states across five different customers.
During 2024, on a segment basis we derived 96% of our revenue from four customers (5 power plants), with each of the four customers representing at least 10% of our coal sales. During 2023, on a segment basis we derived 94% of our revenue from five customers (11 power plants), with each of the five customers representing at least 10% of our coal sales.
Significant third-party customers in 2024 include Vectren Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy (NYSE: CNP), Orlando Utility Commission (OUC), and Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE: DUK).
Of our 2024 sales, on a segment basis 43%, excluding Merom, were derived to locations in the State of Indiana.
Our future coal commitments are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 3rd Party | Merom Power Plant | | | | | | ||
| | | Contracted | | Contracted | | | | Estimated | |
| | | tons | | tons | | | | Priced | |
| Year | (millions)* | (millions)* | Total | per ton | |||||
| 2025 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 5.3 | | $ | 51.03 | |||
| 2026 - 2028 (total) | 5.5 | 6.9 | 12.4 | | 53.38 | ||||
| Total | 8.5 | 9.2 | 17.7 | |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| * | Contracted tons are subject to adjustment in instances of force majeure and exercise of customer options to either take additional tons or reduce tonnage if such option exists in the customer contract. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ** | Unpriced or partially priced committed tons |
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As of December 31, 2024, we are committed to supplying third-party customers a base amount of 8.5 million tons of coal through 2028 of which 8.5 million tons are priced. We are committed to supplying coal to Merom a base amount of 9.2 million tons of coal through 2028. All committed tons to Merom are priced.
Based on the contracted tons described above, we anticipate our mines will need to produce at a 3.6 million ton annualized pace for the foreseeable future to meet Merom and third-party market demand. We also have contracts in place to purchase coal through March of 2026, and anticipate similar contracts in the future.
We expect to continue selling a significant portion of our coal under supply agreements with terms of one year or longer. Typically, customers enter into coal supply agreements to secure reliable sources of coal at predictable prices while we seek stable sources of revenue to support the investments required to open, expand and maintain, or improve productivity at the mines needed to supply these contracts. The terms of coal supply agreements result from competitive bidding and extensive negotiations with customers.
Some utility customers have proposed shuttering certain plant units or entire plants in the coming years. It remains to be seen whether these plans will be implemented.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As set forth in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, cash provided by operations was $65.9 million and $59.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 respectively. Operating cash flow increased mainly due to prepaid physically delivered power contracts entered into during 2024.
Our capital expenditure budget for 2025 is $66.0 million. Of the $66.0 million, the electric operations budget is $31.0 million for maintenance capex and $14.0 million for ELG. The coal operations budget is $14.8 million plus an additional $5.8 million for discretionary items.
As of December 31, 2024, our bank debt was $44.0 million. On March 13, 2023, we executed an amendment to our credit agreement with PNC Bank, National Association (in its capacity as administrative agent, “PNC”), administrative agent for our lenders under our credit agreement. The primary purpose of the amendment was to convert $35 million of the revolver into a new term loan with a maturity of March 31, 2024, and extend the maturity date of the revolver to May 31, 2024. On August 2, 2023, we executed an additional amendment with PNC. The primary purpose of the amendment was to convert $65 million of the existing outstanding debt into a new term loan with a maturity of March 31, 2026, and enter into a revolver of $75 Million with a maturity date of July 31, 2026. Principal payments for the term loan were $3.3 million per quarter for September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2023, and $6.5 million per quarter starting March 31, 2024, through maturity. The effect of the amendment on our future cash flow is to extend the maturity date of $65.0 million of our outstanding term debt to March 31, 2026, and our revolver to July 31, 2026.
On September 27, 2024, the Company executed the First Amendment (“First Amendment”) to the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2023 (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”), with PNC. The primary purpose of the First Amendment was to provide the Company with short-term covenant relief to pursue additional liquidity. The First Amendment provides for additional flexibility for the Company to enter into prepaid forward power sale contracts, provided that the Company repays outstanding term loans under the Credit Agreement (“Term Loan”) with proceeds received from certain eligible power purchase agreements, up to a maximum of $20.0 million. These required prepaid forward power sale Term Loan repayments, if any, will take the place of the $6.5 million quarterly Term Loan payments.
We expect cash from operations generated primarily by our expected higher Electric Operation margins in 2025 to fund our capital expenditures and our debt service.
See “Note 4” to our Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion about our bank debt and related liquidity.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Other than our surety bonds for reclamation, we have no material off-balance sheet arrangements. We have recorded the present value of reclamation obligations of $16.9 million, including $5.7 million at Merom, presented as asset retirement obligations (ARO) in our accompanying consolidated balance sheets. In the event we are not able to perform reclamation, we have surety bonds in place totaling $30.8 million to cover ARO.
Capital Expenditures (“Capex”)
For the year ended December 31, 2024, our Capex was $53.4 million allocated as follows (in millions):
| | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oaktown – maintenance capex | $ | 22.5 | |
| Oaktown – investment | | 11.3 | |
| Merom Plant | | 18.7 | |
| Other | | 0.9 | |
| Capex per the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | | $ | 53.4 |
Results of Operations
Presentation of Segment Information
Our business is organized based on the services and products we provide in two segments: (i) Electric Operations and (ii) Coal Operations. The Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”), who is the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, reviews and assesses operating performance measures related to our Electric Operations and our Coal Operations segments.
In addition to these reportable segments, the Company has a “Corporate and Other and Eliminations” category, which is not significant enough, on a stand-alone basis, to be considered an operating segment. Corporate and Other and Eliminations primarily consist of unallocated corporate costs and activities, including a 50.0% interest in Sunrise Energy, which is accounted for using the equity method.
Electric Operations
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Year Ended December 31, | ||||
| | | 2024 | | 2023 | ||
| | | (in thousands) | ||||
| Delivered Energy | $ | 203,434 | | $ | 211,772 | |
| Capacity Revenue | | | 58,093 | | | 56,155 |
| Electric Sales | | $ | 261,527 | | $ | 267,927 |
| | | | | | | |
| Fuel | | $ | (111,768) | | $ | (139,496) |
| Other Operating Costs (1) | | | (19) | | | (32) |
| Other Operating and Maintenance Costs (2) | | | (28,622) | | | (33,777) |
| Cost of Purchased Power | | | (10,888) | | | — |
| Utilities | | | (2,070) | | | (429) |
| Labor | | | (30,842) | | | (31,245) |
| General and Administrative | | | (5,311) | | | (4,914) |
| EBITDA Margin | | | 72,007 | | | 58,034 |
| Other Operating Revenue | | | 982 | | | 414 |
| Amortization of Contract Asset | | | — | | | (26,581) |
| Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization | | | (19,290) | | | (18,739) |
| Asset Retirement Obligations Accretion | | | (457) | | | (576) |
| Interest expense | | | (1,875) | | | (322) |
| Income (Loss) before Income Taxes | | $ | 51,367 | | $ | 12,230 |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 1) | Other operating costs include costs for limestone, dibasic acid, ammonia, lime dust and soda ash. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 2) | Other operating and maintenance costs include all other operating and maintenance costs with the exceptions of those costs considered variable as discussed above in 1). |
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| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Year Ended December 31, | ||||
| | | 2024 | | 2023 | ||
| | | (per MWh) | ||||
| MWh Generated (in thousands) | | | 3,830 | | | 4,224 |
| MWh Purchased (in thousands) | | | 354 | | | — |
| MWh Sold (in thousands) | | | 4,184 | | | 4,224 |
| | | | | | | |
| Delivered Energy | $ | 48.62 | | $ | 50.14 | |
| Capacity Revenue | | | 13.88 | | | 13.29 |
| Electric Sales | | $ | 62.50 | | $ | 63.43 |
| | | | | | | |
| Fuel | | $ | (26.71) | | $ | (33.02) |
| Other Operating Costs (1) | | | — | | | (0.01) |
| Other Operating and Maintenance Costs (2) | | | (6.84) | | | (8.00) |
| Cost of Purchased Power | | | (2.60) | | | — |
| Utilities | | | (0.49) | | | (0.10) |
| Labor | | | (7.37) | | | (7.40) |
| General and Administrative | | | (1.27) | | | (1.16) |
| EBITDA Margin | | | 17.22 | | | 13.74 |
| Other Operating Revenue | | | 0.23 | | | 0.10 |
| Amortization of Contract Asset | | | — | | | (6.29) |
| Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization | | | (4.61) | | | (4.44) |
| Asset Retirement Obligations Accretion | | | (0.11) | | | (0.14) |
| Interest expense | | | (0.45) | | | (0.08) |
| Income (Loss) before Income Taxes | | $ | 12.28 | | $ | 2.89 |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 1) | Other operating costs include costs for limestone, dibasic acid, ammonia, lime dust and soda ash. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 2) | Other operating and maintenance costs include all other operating and maintenance costs with the exceptions of those costs considered variable as discussed above in 1). |
Fuel decreased $27.7 million, or 19.9%, from 2023 due to production decreasing by 394 MWh, or 9.3%, and the expiration of a purchased coal contract in 2023 reducing our average coal pricing by $8.61 per ton, or 14%, on a segment basis. We used 189,000 tons, or 9.2%, less in production compared to the prior year. The decrease in demand for electric power was related to mild weather throughout 2024 and the associated higher demand for natural gas as natural gas inventories remained high causing a decline in the average spot prices for natural gas which changed $0.34 per mbtu, or 13.5% from 2023.
Other operating and maintenance costs decreased $5.2 million, or 15.3%, from 2023 primarily due to 2023 year-to-date planned maintenance of $13.0 million compared to $9.1 million in 2024.
Cost of purchased power increased $10.9 million, or 100.0%, from 2023. When energy hours at the Merom Hub are priced below our production cost at our Merom Facility, we make net hourly purchases of power in the MISO market.
Amortization of the contract asset decreased by $26.6 million, or 100.0%, from 2023 due to the expiration of our coal purchase contract.
Income (loss) before income taxes increased $39.1 million, or 320.0%, and increased $9.39 per MWh, from 2023 due to the items described in the discussion above.
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Coal Operations
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Year Ended December 31, | ||||
| | | 2024 | | 2023 | ||
| | | (in thousands) | ||||
| Coal Sales | | $ | 202,525 | | $ | 432,888 |
| | | | | | | |
| Fuel | | $ | 2,851 | | $ | 7,089 |
| Other Operating and Maintenance Costs | | | 89,283 | | | 165,479 |
| Utilities | | | 13,844 | | | 17,301 |
| Labor | | | 85,322 | | | 121,172 |
| General and Administrative | | | 9,877 | | | 10,287 |
| EBITDA Margin | | | 1,348 | | | 111,560 |
| Other Operating Revenue | | | 2,756 | | | 2,936 |
| Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization | | | (46,245) | | | (48,365) |
| Asset Impairment | | | (215,136) | | | — |
| Asset Retirement Obligations Accretion | | | (1,171) | | | (1,228) |
| Exploration Costs | | | (260) | | | (904) |
| Gain (loss) on disposal or abandonment of assets, net | | | (1,629) | | | (398) |
| Interest expense | | | (11,033) | | | (11,869) |
| Loss on Extinguishment of Debt | | | — | | | (1,491) |
| Settlement of Litigation | | | (2,750) | | | — |
| Income (Loss) before Income Taxes | | $ | (274,120) | | $ | 50,241 |
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Year Ended December 31, | ||||
| | | 2024 | | 2023 | ||
| | | (per ton) | ||||
| Tons Sold | | | 3,864 | | 6,922 | |
| | | | | | | |
| Coal Sales | | $ | 52.41 | | $ | 62.54 |
| | | | | | | |
| Fuel | | $ | 0.74 | | $ | 1.02 |
| Other Operating and Maintenance Costs | | | 23.11 | | | 23.91 |
| Utilities | | | 3.58 | | | 2.50 |
| Labor | | | 22.08 | | | 17.51 |
| General and Administrative | | | 2.56 | | | 1.49 |
| EBITDA Margin | | | 0.34 | | | 16.11 |
| Other Operating Revenue | | | | | | |
| Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization | | | (11.97) | | | (6.99) |
| Asset Impairment | | | (55.68) | | | — |
| Asset Retirement Obligations Accretion | | | (0.30) | | | (0.18) |
| Exploration Costs | | | (0.07) | | | (0.13) |
| Gain (loss) on disposal or abandonment of assets, net | | | (0.42) | | | (0.06) |
| Interest expense | | | (2.86) | | | (1.71) |
| Loss on Extinguishment of Debt | | | — | | | (0.22) |
| Settlement of Litigation | | | (0.71) | | | — |
| Income (Loss) before Income Taxes | | $ | (71.67) | | $ | 6.82 |
During 2024, we undertook an Organizational Restructuring of our Coal Operations. See “Note 17 – Organizational Restructuring” in the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
Segment operating revenues from coal operations decreased $230.4 million, or 53.2%, from 2023. Consolidated operating revenues from coal operations decreased $224.5 million, or 62.0%, from 2023. These declines were due to reductions in volume and average sales price for our coal. Our average sales price, on a segment basis, decreased $10.13 per ton and we sold 3.1 million tons less compared to 2023. Our average sales price, on a consolidated basis, for 2024 decreased $7.58 per ton and we sold 3.3 million tons less compared to 2023.
Other operating and maintenance costs decreased $76.2 million, or 46.0%. Labor decreased $35.9 million, or 29.6%, from 2023, however labor cost per ton sold increased $4.57 per ton sold. These changes were driven by the Reorganization Plan disclosed in “Note 17 — Organizational Restructuring” to the Consolidated Financial Statements. As part of the Organizational Restructuring, we incurred aggregate expenses of $1.9 million ($1.1 million in the first
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quarter of 2024 and $0.8 million in the second quarter of 2024) that were included in coal operations “Labor”. These charges related to compensation, tax, professional, and insurance related expenses and are considered one-time charges paid during 2024. During 2024, we produced 2.7 million tons less on a segment basis than 2023. Additionally, we went from 5 mines producing to 1 mine producing and reduced our coal employee headcount by 305 employees.
We recorded an asset impairment of $215.1 million during 2024. During the fourth quarter of 2024, we began our annual business plan review. We evaluated core hole samples at several of our mines, reviewing the quality of the mine seam and density of the coal. Based upon market price trends, we believe that the required course of action is to only produce those reserves that will allow us the lowest possible cost, and therefore capture the highest possible margins. The core hole samples at our Oaktown 2 mine were of a lower quality and density than that of the Oaktown 1 mine. As such, at the conclusion our annual business plan review during the fourth quarter of 2024, we decided to temporarily seal the Oaktown 2 mine, and to focus coal production at the Oaktown 1 mine, which has lower recovery costs. Due to that decision, we determined a triggering event had occurred and completed an impairment review to determine if the carrying value of our coal properties were impaired by comparing the net book value of our coal properties to estimated undiscounted future net cash flows. The result of this undiscounted cash flow test indicated the carrying amount of our coal properties may not be recoverable. As a result, the Company prepared a discounted cash flow model (Level 3 fair value measurement under the fair value hierarchy) to estimate fair value.
Income (loss) before income taxes decreased $324.4 million, or 645.6%, and decreased $78.49 per ton, from 2023. The main drivers of this change in income from operations are described in the discussion above.
The following tables presenting our quarterly results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. We have prepared the unaudited information on the same basis as our audited consolidated financial statements. Our operating results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of results for any future quarters or for a full year. The tables present our unaudited quarterly results of operations for the eight quarters ended December 31, 2024, and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, that we consider necessary for fair presentation of our consolidated operating results for the quarters presented. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company made certain reclassifications that reduced “other operating and maintenance costs” and increased “depreciation, depletion and amortization” for certain assets with a useful life of one to three years. The entire adjustment is reflected in the fourth quarter of 2024. Previous interim periods and prior year periods were not adjusted as the amounts were not material. The amounts recognized in the fourth quarter of 2024 that are related to the first, second and third quarters of 2024 were $2.1 million, $2.6 million and $1.7 million, respectively.
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Mar-31 | Jun-30 | Sep-30 | Dec-31 | | ||||||||||
| | | 2024 | | 2024 | | 2024 | | 2024 | | Total 2024 | |||||
| | | (in thousands, except per share information) | |||||||||||||
| SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES: | | | | | | ||||||||||
| Electric sales | | $ | 60,681 | | $ | 59,465 | | $ | 71,715 | | $ | 69,666 | | $ | 261,527 |
| Coal sales | | 49,630 | | 32,801 | | 31,662 | | 23,355 | | 137,448 | |||||
| Other revenues | | 1,263 | | 1,045 | | 1,377 | | 1,734 | | 5,419 | |||||
| Total revenue | | 111,574 | | 93,311 | | 104,754 | | 94,755 | | 404,394 | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| EXPENSES: | | | | | | ||||||||||
| Fuel | | 8,059 | | | 10,439 | | 13,176 | | 17,669 | | 49,343 | ||||
| Other operating and maintenance costs | | | 37,482 | | | 35,912 | | | 33,320 | | | 11,650 | | | 118,364 |
| Cost of purchased power | | | 1,926 | | | 2,619 | | | 3,149 | | | 3,194 | | | 10,888 |
| Utilities | | | 4,374 | | | 3,396 | | | 3,185 | | | 4,959 | | | 15,914 |
| Labor | | | 35,168 | | | 26,555 | | | 26,721 | | | 27,720 | | | 116,164 |
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | | 15,443 | | | 13,649 | | 13,838 | | 22,696 | | 65,626 | ||||
| Asset retirement obligations accretion | | 399 | | | 399 | | 410 | | 420 | | 1,628 | ||||
| Exploration costs | | 70 | | | 47 | | 62 | | 81 | | 260 | ||||
| General and administrative | | 5,944 | | | 7,803 | | 6,471 | | 6,309 | | 26,527 | ||||
| Asset impairment | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 215,136 | | | 215,136 |
| (Gain) loss on disposal or abandonment of assets, net | | | (24) | | | (222) | | | (290) | | | 486 | | | (50) |
| Settlement of litigation | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 2,750 | | | 2,750 |
| Total operating expenses | | 108,841 | | 100,597 | | 100,042 | | 313,070 | | 622,550 | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS | | 2,733 | | (7,286) | | 4,712 | | (218,315) | | (218,156) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest expense (1) | | (3,937) | | (3,735) | | (2,692) | | (3,486) | | (13,850) | |||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | | (853) | | (1,937) | | — | | — | | (2,790) | |||||
| Equity method investment income (loss) | | (249) | | (257) | | (234) | | (6) | | (746) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES | | (2,306) | | (13,215) | | 1,786 | | (221,807) | | (235,542) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT): | | | | | | ||||||||||
| Current | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (169) | | (169) | ||
| Deferred | | (610) | | | (3,011) | | | 232 | | | (5,846) | | (9,235) | ||
| Total income tax expense (benefit) | | (610) | | (3,011) | | 232 | | (6,015) | | (9,404) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| NET INCOME (LOSS) | | $ | (1,696) | | $ | (10,204) | | $ | 1,554 | | $ | (215,792) | | $ | (226,138) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE: | | | | | | | |||||||||
| Basic | | $ | (0.05) | | $ | (0.27) | | $ | 0.04 | | $ | (5.06) | | $ | (5.72) |
| Diluted | | $ | (0.05) | | $ | (0.27) | | $ | 0.04 | | $ | (5.06) | | $ | (5.72) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING: | | | | | | ||||||||||
| Basic | | 34,816 | | | 37,879 | | | 42,598 | | | 42,617 | | | 39,504 | |
| Diluted | | 34,816 | | | 37,879 | | | 43,018 | | | 42,617 | | | 39,504 |
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Mar-31 | Jun-30 | Sep-30 | Dec-31 | | ||||||||||
| | | 2023 | | 2023 | | 2023 | | 2023 | | Total 2023 | |||||
| | | (in thousands, except per share information) | |||||||||||||
| SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES: | | | | | | ||||||||||
| Electric sales | | $ | 92,392 | | $ | 71,017 | | $ | 67,403 | | $ | 37,115 | | $ | 267,927 |
| Coal sales | | 94,602 | | 88,574 | | 97,420 | | 81,330 | | 361,926 | |||||
| Other revenues | | 1,361 | | 1,640 | | 965 | | 1,059 | | 5,025 | |||||
| Total revenue | | 188,355 | | 161,231 | | 165,788 | | 119,504 | | 634,878 | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| EXPENSES: | | | | | | ||||||||||
| Fuel | | 55,973 | | 32,641 | | 11,345 | | 3,429 | | 103,388 | |||||
| Other operating and maintenance costs | | | 32,520 | | | 41,908 | | | 65,551 | | | 59,876 | | | 199,855 |
| Cost of purchased power | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
| Utilities | | | 4,497 | | | 4,343 | | | 4,507 | | | 4,383 | | | 17,730 |
| Labor | | | 40,531 | | | 36,528 | | | 37,639 | | | 37,719 | | | 152,417 |
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | | 17,976 | | 17,169 | | 16,230 | | 15,836 | | 67,211 | |||||
| Asset retirement obligations accretion | | 451 | | 461 | | 468 | | 424 | | 1,804 | |||||
| Exploration costs | | 206 | | 305 | | 171 | | 222 | | 904 | |||||
| General and administrative | | 6,947 | | 5,595 | | 6,054 | | 7,563 | | 26,159 | |||||
| (Gain) loss on disposal or abandonment of assets, net | | | 21 | | | 37 | | | 20 | | | 320 | | | 398 |
| Total operating expenses | | 159,122 | | 138,987 | | 141,985 | | 129,772 | | 569,866 | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS | | 29,233 | | 22,244 | | 23,803 | | (10,268) | | 65,012 | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Interest expense (1) | | (3,899) | | (3,541) | | (3,030) | | (3,241) | | (13,711) | |||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | | — | | — | | (1,491) | | — | | (1,491) | |||||
| Equity method investment income (loss) | | 69 | | (217) | | (177) | | (227) | | (552) | |||||
| INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES | | 25,403 | | 18,486 | | 19,105 | | (13,736) | | 49,258 | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT): | | | | | | ||||||||||
| Current | | 432 | | 61 | | (178) | | (479) | | (164) | |||||
| Deferred | | 2,920 | | 1,510 | | 3,208 | | (3,009) | | 4,629 | |||||
| Total income tax expense (benefit) | | 3,352 | | 1,571 | | 3,030 | | (3,488) | | 4,465 | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| NET INCOME (LOSS) | | $ | 22,051 | | $ | 16,915 | | $ | 16,075 | | $ | (10,248) | | $ | 44,793 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE: | | | | | | ||||||||||
| Basic | | $ | 0.67 | | $ | 0.51 | | $ | 0.49 | | $ | (0.31) | | $ | 1.35 |
| Diluted | | $ | 0.61 | | $ | 0.47 | | $ | 0.44 | | $ | (0.31) | | $ | 1.25 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING: | | | | | | ||||||||||
| Basic | | 32,983 | | 33,137 | | 33,140 | | 33,245 | | 33,133 | |||||
| Diluted | | 36,740 | | 36,708 | | 36,848 | | 33,245 | | 36,827 |
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Quarterly coal sales and cost data follow on a segment basis (in 000’s, except for per ton data and wash plant recovery percentage):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Mines | 1st 2024 | 2nd 2024 | 3rd 2024 | 4th 2024 | T4Qs | ||||||||||
| Tons produced | | 1,271 | | 889 | | 873 | | 971 | | 4,004 | |||||
| Tons sold | | 1,214 | | 849 | | 926 | | 875 | | 3,864 | |||||
| Wash plant recovery in % | | 60 | % | 59 | % | 60 | % | 62 | % | ||||||
| Capex (Coal Operations) | | $ | 8,632 | | $ | 7,560 | | $ | 6,810 | | $ | 11,079 | | $ | 34,081 |
| Maintenance capex (Coal Operations) | | $ | 8,085 | | $ | 6,014 | | $ | 4,208 | | $ | 4,492 | | $ | 22,799 |
| Maintenance capex per ton sold (Coal Operations) | | $ | 6.66 | | $ | 7.08 | | $ | 4.54 | | $ | 5.13 | | $ | 5.90 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Average cost per ton sold⁽ⁱ⁾ | | $ | 51.65 | | $ | 49.94 | | $ | 52.22 | | $ | 43.25 | | $ | 49.51 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Mines | 1st 2023 | 2nd 2023 | 3rd 2023 | 4th 2023 | T4Qs | ||||||||||
| Tons produced | | 2,006 | | 1,723 | | 1,594 | | 1,331 | | 6,654 | |||||
| Tons sold | | 1,693 | | 1,714 | | 2,054 | | 1,461 | | 6,922 | |||||
| Wash plant recovery in % | | 70 | % | 67 | % | 65 | % | 62 | % | ||||||
| Capex (Coal Operations) | | $ | 12,639 | | $ | 14,445 | | $ | 11,570 | | $ | 17,867 | | $ | 56,521 |
| Maintenance capex (Coal Operations) | | $ | 7,778 | | $ | 9,754 | | $ | 7,938 | | $ | 13,567 | | $ | 39,037 |
| Maintenance capex per ton sold (Coal Operations) | | $ | 4.59 | | $ | 5.69 | | $ | 3.86 | | $ | 9.29 | | $ | 5.64 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Average cost per ton sold⁽ⁱ⁾ | | $ | 38.81 | | $ | 41.52 | | $ | 46.54 | | $ | 53.78 | | $ | 44.94 |
i)Average cost per ton sold is calculated as the sum of the Coal Operation’s “Fuel”, “Other Operating and Maintenance Costs”, “Utilities” and “Labor” costs as adjusted for the fourth quarter 2024 reclassification adjustments previously described, divided by tons sold for the respective period in this table. Coal Operations costs are presented in the “Presentation of Segment Information” above.
Critical Accounting Estimates
We believe that the estimates of coal reserves, asset retirement obligation liabilities, deferred tax accounts, valuation of inventory, treatment of business combinations, and the estimates used in impairment analysis are our critical accounting estimates.
The reserve estimates are used in the depreciation, depletion and amortization calculations and our internal cash flow projections. If these estimates turn out to be materially under or over-stated, our depreciation, depletion and amortization expense and impairment test may be affected. The process of estimating reserves is complex, requiring significant judgment in the evaluation of all available geological, geophysical, engineering and economic data. The reserve estimates are prepared by professional engineers, both internal and external, and are subject to change over time as more data becomes available. Changes in the reserves estimates from the prior year were nominal.
SMCRA and similar state statutes require, among other things, that surface disturbance be restored in accordance with specified standards and approved reclamation plans. SMCRA requires us to restore affected surface areas to approximate the original contours as contemporaneously as practicable with the completion of surface mining operations. Federal law and some states impose on mine operators the responsibility for replacing certain water supplies damaged by mining operations and repairing or compensating for damage to certain structures occurring on the surface as a result of mine subsidence, a consequence of longwall mining and possibly other mining operations.
Obligations are reflected at the present value of their future cash flows. We reflect accretion of the obligations for the period from the date they are incurred through the date they are extinguished. The ARO assets are amortized using the units-of-production method over estimated recoverable (proven and probable) reserves. We use credit-adjusted risk-free discount rates ranging from 7% to 10% to discount the obligation, inflation rates anticipated during the time to reclamation, and cost estimates prepared by its engineers inclusive of market risk premiums. Activities include
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reclamation of pit and support acreage at surface mines, sealing portals at underground mines, and reclamation of refuse areas and slurry ponds.
Accretion expense is recognized on the obligation through the expected settlement date. On at least an annual basis, we review our entire reclamation liability and make necessary adjustments for permit changes as granted by state authorities, changes in the timing and extent of reclamation activities, and revisions to cost estimates and productivity assumptions, to reflect current experience. Any difference between the recorded amount of the liability and the actual cost of reclamation will be recognized as a gain or loss when the obligation is settled.
We have analyzed our filing positions in all of the federal and state jurisdictions where we are required to file income tax returns, as well as all open tax years in these jurisdictions. We identified our federal tax return and our Indiana state tax return as “major” tax jurisdictions. We believe that our income tax filing positions and deductions would be sustained on audit and do not anticipate any adjustments that will result in a material change to our consolidated financial position. We have not taken any significant uncertain tax positions and our tax provision and returns are prepared by a large public accounting firm with significant experience in energy related industries. Changes to the estimates from reported amounts in the prior year were not significant.
Inventory is valued at lower of cost or net realizable value (NRV). The NRV adjustments are subject to change as our costs may fluctuate due to higher or lower production and our NRV may fluctuate based on sales contracts we enter into from time to time. As of December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, coal inventory includes NRV adjustments of $0.3 million and $2.0 million, respectively.
Long-lived assets used in operations are depreciated and assessed for impairment annually or whenever changes in facts and circumstances indicate a possible significant deterioration in future cash flows is expected to be generated by an asset group. For impairment assessments, management groups individual assets based on a judgmental assessment of the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets. The determination of the lowest level of cash flows is largely based on nature of production, common infrastructure, common sales points, common regulation and management oversight to make such determinations. These determinations could impact the determination and measurement of a potential asset impairment. This cash flow analysis is largely dependent upon the operating plans of the Company, which are reviewed by the Company and its Board of Directors no less than annually, normally during the 4th quarter of each year. Changes in anticipated activity levels, pricing or operating expenses can have significant effects on the ultimate value of the undiscounted cash flow analysis.
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FY 2023 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001437749-24-007870.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
Our consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with this discussion. The following analysis includes a discussion of metrics on a per ton and per mega-watt hour (MWh) basis as derived from the condensed consolidated financial statements, which are considered non-GAAP measurements. These metrics are significant factors in assessing our operating results and profitability.
OVERVIEW
Hallador Energy Company (the “Company” or “Hallador”) is an energy company operating in the state of Indiana. Historically, the largest portion of our business has been devoted to coal mining in the State of Indiana through Sunrise Coal, LLC (a wholly-owned subsidiary) serving the electric power generation industry.
On October 21, 2022, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary Hallador Power, acquired the Merom Generating Energy Station ("Merom"), a one gigawatt (“GW”) power plant located in Sullivan County, Indiana. Merom is located in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator's ("MISO") footprint. We believe this acquisition is the catalyst that began Hallador's transition from a producer of coal to a vertically integrated independent power producer ("IPP").
As a result of the Merom acquisition the Company has two reportable segments: coal operations (operated by Sunrise Coal, LLC) and electric operations (operated by Hallador Power). In addition to our reportable segments, the remainder of our operations are presented as “Corporate and Other” and primarily are comprised of unallocated corporate costs in addition to activities such as a 50% interest in Sunrise Energy, LLC, a private gas exploration company with operations in Indiana, accounted for using the equity method, and our wholly-owned subsidiary Summit Terminal LLC, a logistics transport facility located on the Ohio River.
2023 was the first whole year in which Hallador Power operated Merom. In accordance with the Purchase and Sale Agreement associated with the Merom acquisition, for the first five months of 2023, all fuel consumed at Merom was delivered from a third party and all energy produced was sold at $34 per MWh. Beginning in June 2023, approximately seventy percent of Merom’s energy became available to sell on the open market. However, despite spot prices for electricity at Merom averaging $39 in 2021 and $69 in 2022, generally milder weather and depressed natural gas prices drove down the average spot price for electricity to $31 in 2023.
Despite near record margins at our coal division for the full year, the fourth quarter was a particularly challenging quarter for Hallador Power. A failure in Merom’s main Generator Step-Up Transformer (GSU) coupled with a scheduled maintenance outage took half of the plant offline for nearly the entire quarter. The planned maintenance resulted in $12.6 million in expenditures and the transformer replacement resulted in an additional $0.7 million in unplanned capital expenditures. Additionally, natural gas prices, which have great influence on overall electricity price, remained low throughout the second half of 2023 and dropped to an inflation adjusted all-time low in the first quarter of 2024.
The acquisition of Merom, brought with it additional capex spending requirements to maintain and return the power plant to top condition, which we expected to pay for with fourth quarter free cash flow from in-quarter power sales. However, with fourth quarter challenges at both Merom and in our coal division, Sunrise Coal, we took steps to protect liquidity and to increase the efficiency of our operations. Thus, in December and early January we improved liquidity and provided operational flexibility through an At-The-Market (ATM) offering. Under the ATM, we sold approximately 800,000 shares of Hallador stock in December 2023 and raised approximately $7.3 million of equity resulting in 34,051,154 shares outstanding at December 31, 2023. Approximately 700,000 shares of Hallador stock was sold in January 2024 raising an additional $6.6 million of equity. Hallador’s share count stands at 34.9 million shares as of March 8, 2024. Liquidity at year end was $26.2 million. Subsequently, in February 2024, we further added to liquidity as several members of Hallador's Board of Directors loaned the company a total of $5 million through an unsecured one year note at an interest rate of 12% per annum. Receipt of roughly $36 million in capacity revenue for the 2024-2025 planning year will begin in the first quarter of 2024, further strengthening our financial position. See Note 4 to our consolidated financial statements for additional discussion about our bank debt and related liquidity.
On February 23, 2024, our Coal Operations Segment undertook an initiative designed to strengthen our financial and operational efficiency and to create significant operational savings and higher margins in our coal segment. This step will advance our transition from a company primarily focused on coal production to a more resilient and diversified vertically integrated IPP. As part of this initiative, we idled production at our higher cost Prosperity Mine, and substantially idled production at Freelandville Mine with minimal production. This should reduce our capital reinvestment for coal production in 2024 by approximately $10 million. We also focused our seven units of underground equipment on four units of our lowest cost production at our Oaktown Mine. As part of the initiative, we reduced our workforce by approximately 110 employees.
Historically, Sunrise Coal has generated approximately six million tons of coal annually. Following the restructuring, we expect Sunrise to produce roughly 4.5 million tons of coal annually at improved margins to our former structure. Additionally, in 2024, we have secured supplemental coal from third party suppliers at favorable prices. This allows us to diversify self-production supply risk and provides us with additional flexibility in our sales portfolio. The optionality to obtain low-cost tons either internally or from third parties while capturing upward swings in the commodities markets for coal should further maximize margins while optimizing fuels costs at Merom.
In addition to the expected improvements in coal margins, Merom has the capability to provide revenue on up to 6 million mega-watt-hours (MWh) annually. Based on the currently available forward power price curves, we believe over time, the margins earned on energy and capacity sales will be more than double our historical margins of approximately eight dollars per ton on coal production. Furthering this belief, in Q3 we reported contracted sales of 3.4 million MWh to be delivered in 2026-2028 at MWh margins that we believe could exceed twenty-five dollars per MWh. We continue to see strong indications for both energy and capacity sales in 2024 and in future years. Our approach has been to sell energy primarily through bi-lateral agreements on a unit contingent basis in an attempt to reduce our exposure to market risk if we fail to produce due to operational issues in what we believe to be an increasingly volatile power market. While we are seeing success in this approach, sales of this type are largely bespoke and require more time and negotiation than a typical firm power sale as we build our forward sales positions. As we methodically work to contract our forward sales book, we continue to sell energy on the spot market, resulting in episodic cash generation largely dependent on demand created by seasonal weather and various other conditions which stress the power grid.
The ability to store a commodity is inherently tied to the volatility of that commodity. Coal can be piled up for years, thus its volatility is low. Oil and gas face transportation and storage challenges which increase price volatility. Batteries and hydro generation are improving, but current technology and expense limit the ability to economic practicability of implementing the technology on a large-scale basis. We believe that the lack of economically viable storage options coupled with the challenges of non-dispatchable generation gaining market share in an environment where the sun does not always shine and the wind does not always blow, indicates that energy’s price volatility is likely to increase over the next decade. This volatility appears to be keeping the forward power price premium intact.
In an effort to capture additional margins above our traditional wholesale energy markets, we recently agreed to a structure with Hoosier Energy and their distribution member, WIN REMC, that should allow us to attract industrial users of power, such as data centers, AI providers and power dense manufacturers, to the Merom property. We believe leveraging our plant to help supply these large users of energy with reliable, resilient electricity should allow us to operate more efficiently in a volatile power environment, generate increased margins and support the fragile power grid as it navigates the challenges of transition to new sources of energy in the coming decades. These types of relationships should allow us to capture the upside of increasing demand and volatility while providing stability to our earnings and ability to dispatch in a world that is consistently seeking more electricity but lacks the real time infrastructure and generation to satisfy those increasing power needs. Combined with our increased volume of forward power sales, we believe that these types of opportunities will continue to improve the outlook for the company and provide a stable platform to leverage both our power and coal assets in a responsible and sustainable manner.
We are excited about the transformation of Hallador from a commodity focused producer of coal to a vertically integrated IPP. We believe that this transition provides significant opportunity to capture the increased margins of the energy markets, to take advantage of the increasing demand for electricity and to step up the value chain in a more sustainable and future proofed industry than that which we have traditionally operated in. As evidenced by the ongoing build of our long-term sales book, our deliberate movement into the electricity sector should materially strengthen our company and the products that we sell.
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Solid Forward Sales Position - Segment Basis, Before Intercompany Eliminations
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coal | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Priced tons - 3rd party (in millions) | 3.4 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | - | 6.2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Average price per ton - 3rd party | $ | 51.82 | $ | 50.57 | $ | 56.09 | $ | 56.09 | $ | - | |||||||||||||
| Priced tons (in millions) - Hallador Power | 1.5 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 10.7 | |||||||||||||||||
| Average price per ton - Hallador Power | $ | 51.00 | $ | 51.00 | $ | 51.00 | $ | 51.00 | $ | 51.00 | |||||||||||||
| Contracted coal revenue (in millions) | $ | 252.69 | $ | 208.33 | $ | 145.35 | $ | 145.35 | $ | 117.30 | $ | 869.02 | |||||||||||
| % Priced | 109 | % | 91 | % | 62 | % | 62 | % | 51 | % | |||||||||||||
| Committed & unpriced tons (in millions) - 3rd party | - | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | - | 3.0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Committed & unpriced tons (in millions) - Hallador Power | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
| Total contracted tons (in millions) | 4.9 | 5.1 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 2.3 | 19.9 | |||||||||||||||||
| % Coal Sold* | 109 | % | 113 | % | 84 | % | 84 | % | 51 | % | |||||||||||||
| Average cost per ton of coal sold was $33.67 for the year ended December 31, 2023 ($26.98 after eliminating for intercompany sales to Hallador Power) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 Coal Capex Budget (in millions) | $ | 25.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Power | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Energy | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contracted MWh (in millions) | 1.87 | 1.90 | 1.83 | 1.78 | 1.09 | 8.47 | |||||||||||||||||
| Average contracted price per MWh | $ | 35.23 | $ | 36.06 | $ | 55.37 | $ | 54.65 | $ | 52.98 | |||||||||||||
| Contracted revenue (in millions) | $ | 65.88 | $ | 68.51 | $ | 101.33 | $ | 97.28 | $ | 57.75 | $ | 390.75 | |||||||||||
| % Energy Sold* | 31 | % | 32 | % | 31 | % | 30 | % | 18 | % | |||||||||||||
| Capacity | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average daily contracted capacity | 810 | 748 | 743 | 623 | 454 | ||||||||||||||||||
| % Capacity Contracted** | 94 | % | 87 | % | 86 | % | 72 | % | 53 | % | |||||||||||||
| Average contracted capacity price per MWd | $ | 200 | $ | 210 | $ | 230 | $ | 226 | $ | 224 | |||||||||||||
| Contracted capacity revenue (in millions) | $ | 59.13 | $ | 57.33 | $ | 62.37 | $ | 51.39 | $ | 37.12 | $ | 267.34 | |||||||||||
| Total Energy & Capacity Revenue | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contracted Power Revenue (in millions) | $ | 125.01 | $ | 125.84 | $ | 163.70 | $ | 148.67 | $ | 94.87 | $ | 658.09 | |||||||||||
| Contracted Power Revenue per MWh* | $ | 45.69 | $ | 47.05 | $ | 67.40 | $ | 66.47 | $ | 64.70 | |||||||||||||
| 2023 average cost per MWh sold was $33.67 for the year ended December 31, 2023 ($26.98 assuming intercompany sales of coal were sold at cost) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 Power Capex Budget (in millions) | $ | 18.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| TOTAL CONTRACTED REVENUE (IN MILLIONS) | $ | 377.70 | $ | 334.17 | $ | 309.05 | $ | 294.02 | $ | 212.17 | $ | 1,527.11 |
* Based on coal production of 4.5 million tons and 6.0 million MWh annually.
** Based on a MISO accreditation of 860MW per day. Accreditations are adjusted annually based on 3-year rolling performance metrics.
Internal Controls Disclosure
The preparation of coal reserve and resource estimates is conducted by independent individuals who are by virtue of their education, experience and professional association considered qualified persons (as defined in SEC rules). Company personnel meet on an annual basis with the independent qualified person to provide updates to the reserve and resource estimates. Company personnel review the work of the qualified person to ensure such work is prepared in accordance with applicable rules and regulations and that the data and assumptions provided were properly applied to the final reserve and resource model. The Company’s engineering personnel ensure estimates are based on current mine plans, incorporate the most recent drilling and lab data, properly reflect changes in permitting status, consider known encumbrances, and are consistent with operating knowledge and expectations in terms of mining methods, recovery rates, minimum seam heights or maximum strip ratios, and saleable qualities.
An American National Standards Institute-certified third-party laboratory is utilized to support reserve and resource estimates. The laboratory follows standard sample preparation, security, and environmental procedures. In addition, the Company’s qualified person performs independent data verification procedures to ensure data is of sufficient quantity and reliability to reasonably support the coal reserve and resource estimates.
Estimates of any mineral reserve and resources are always subject to a degree of uncertainty. The level of confidence that can be applied to a particular estimate is a function of, among other things, the amount, quality, and completeness of exploration data; geological complexity of the deposit; and economic, legal, social, and environmental factors associated with mining the reserve/resource. The Company’s current coal reserves and resource estimates are based on the best information available and are subject to updates as conditions change. Also refer to "Item 1A. Risk Factors" for discussion of risks associated with the estimates of the Company’s reserves and resources.
Summary of All Mining Properties
The Company has six total mining properties. These properties are the Oaktown Mining Complex, which is comprised of Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine and Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine, the Ace in the Hole Mine, the Ace in the Hole Mine #2 Reserves, Prosperity and Freelandville. The Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine is an underground mine in the Illinois Basin located near Oaktown in Knox County, Indiana. Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine utilizes continuous mining units operating in room and pillar mining techniques to produce high-sulfur coal. The Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine is an underground mine in the Illinois Basin located near Oaktown in Knox County, Indiana. The Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine utilizes continuous mining units operating in room and pillar mining techniques to produce high-sulfur coal. The preparation plant at the Oaktown Mine Complex has a throughput capacity of 1,600 tons of raw coal per hour. Freelandville is a surface mine in the Illinois Basin located near Freelandville in Knox County, Indiana. Freelandville utilizes surface mining techniques to produce high-sulfur coal from as many as three seams. Prosperity is a surface mine in the Illinois Basin located near Petersburg in Pike County, Indiana. Prosperity utilizes surface mining techniques to produce low-sulfur coal. The low-sulfur coal is trucked to the Oaktown Complex and other Sunrise Coal logistic facilities where it is blended with coal from the Oaktown Mines. Ace in the Hole Mine is now depleted.
These properties and further summaries concerning property description, purpose, property overview, geology, background, processing operations, mine infrastructure, and market analysis can be found and are hereby incorporated by reference from Sections 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.6, 2.1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.1, 7.3, 7.4, 8, 9, and 10 from the October 2023 Technical Report Summary prepared by the John T. Boyd Company, attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 10-K.
The following figure shows the general location of All Mining Properties discussed above:
Individual Mining Properties
The following information concerning our mining properties has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K. Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K requires us to disclose our mineral (coal) resources, which we have none, in addition to our mineral (coal) reserves, as of the end of our most recently completed fiscal year both in the aggregate and for each of our individually material mining properties.
As used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the terms “mineral resources,” “mineral reserve,” “proven mineral reserve” and “probable mineral reserve” are defined and used in accordance with subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K. Under subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K, mineral resources may not be classified as “mineral reserves” unless the determination has been made by a qualified person (QP) that the mineral resources can be the basis of an economically viable project. You are specifically cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits (including any mineral resources) in these categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves, as defined by the SEC.
Internal qualified person(s) have estimated the Company’s mineral reserves and mineral resources based on geologic data, coal ownership (control) information, and current and/or proposed operating plans. Periodic updates occur to mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates attributableto revised mine plans, new exploration data, depletion from coal production, property acquisitions or dispositions, and/or other geologic or mining data. Sunrise’s estimates of mineral reserves are proven and probable reserves that could be extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination, economically, legally, and after considering all material modifying factors. Modifications or updates of the estimates of the Company’s mineral reserves is limited to qualified geologists and mining engineers. All modifications or updates of the estimates of recoverable coal reserves are documented. The John T. Boyd Company, a qualified person firm, has assessed the Company’s estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources and supporting information. Based upon the review, John T. Boyd Company provided modification to the Company’s estimates of mineral reserves where warranted.
The information that follows is derived, for the most part, from, and in some instances is extracted from, the Oaktown Mining Complex technical report summary (“TRS”) from John T. Boyd Company dated October, 2023 in accordance with Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K (Coal Resources and Coal Reserves, Oaktown Mining Complex) attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 10-K; and a letter, dated January, 29, 2024, from John T. Boyd Company providing an update of estimated coal reserves at the Oaktown Mining Complex as of December 31, 2023, attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this Form 10-K. The Oaktown Mining Complex is the Company’s individually material property. Sections of the following information provided herein do not fully describe assumptions, qualifications, and procedures. Reference should be made to the full text of the TRS which is made a part of this Annual report on Form 10-K and incorporated hereby by reference. The Oaktown Mining Complex TRS was prepared by the John T. Boyd Company in compliance with the Item 60(b)(96) and subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K.
The Company hereby incorporates by reference Section 6.3 "Coal Reserves" from the TRS, attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 10-K, as to the mineral price, cut-off grade, and metallurgical recovery factors utilized in John T. Boyd Company's preparation of the mineral reserve estimates. The Company hereby incorporates the letter, dated January 29, 2024, from John T. Boyd Company, attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this Form 10-K, providing an update of the Company's mineral reserves at the Oaktown Mining Complex as of December 31, 2023 and including a comparison of the Company's mineral reserves at the Oaktown Mining Complex as of December 31, 2023 and as of December 31, 2022. The following table provides a summary of all of the Company’s mineral reserves determined by the John T. Boyd Company as of the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023:
SUMMARY MINERAL RESERVES AT END OF THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023
| Mineral Reserves (tons in millions) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proven | Probable | Total | |||||||||
| Oaktown Mining Complex | |||||||||||
| Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine | 29.9 | 4.2 | 34.1 | ||||||||
| Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine | 20.4 | 6.2 | 26.6 | ||||||||
| Total | 50.3 | 10.4 | 60.7 |
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Oaktown Mining Complex
The Oaktown Mining Complex is a coal mining and processing operation located in Knox and Sullivan counties, Indiana, and Crawford and Lawrence counties, Illinois. The following figure shows the general location of the Oaktown Mining Complex:
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Comprising 118 square miles within the ILB coal-producing region of the mid-western U.S., the Oaktown Mining Complex is one of the largest underground Room-and-Pillar (R&P) coal mining complexes in North America. The Oaktown Mining Complex operations currently consist of two active underground mines - Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine and Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine - and related infrastructure. Geographically, the Oaktown Complex Coal Preparation Plant is located at approximately 28°51’24.7” N latitude and 87°25’30.9” W longitude. Within the Oaktown Mining Complex area and immediate vicinity, our Company controls approximately 75,000 acres of mineral rights. This control exists as a complex collection of leases that apply to more than 2,000 tracts. Each of which range from less than an acre to several hundred acres in size. Ownership of the surface rights and the mineral rights is often severed for the properties and the estates are often fractions, in which mineral rights are split between several owners. The Company and its predecessors have acquired the necessary rights to support development and operations through purchase or lease agreements with predominately private owners or entities. As part of the Oaktown Mining Complex, the Company controls surface rights through fee simple ownership for over 1,700 permitted acres. Upon those acres resides the surface facilities for mine accesses, processing, storing, shipping, and refuse disposal facilities (i.e., refuse impoundment site and fine refuse injection sites). Our involvement with the Oaktown Mining Complex dates to 2014 with the acquisition of Oaktown Fuels No. 1 and No. 2 Mines from Vectren Fuels.
Each mine of the Oaktown Mining Complex utilizes R&P mining (employing Continuous Miners, or CM) for primary production. This mining method is highly productive and commercially demonstrated; it has been one of the primary approaches to underground mining the Indiana V Seam for decades. Oaktown Mining Complex has utilized this mining method since the inception of each operation. To date, Oaktown Mining Complex has produced a combined 71.1 million tons of clean coal. The complex is configured to operate up to 7 CM sections, with an annual production target of approximately 4.5 million product tons. The Oaktown Complex Coal Preparation Plant serves as the coal washing and shipment facility for the Oaktown Mining Complex’s two R&P mines. The plant was commissioned in 2009 to wash coal by the Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine. The Oaktown Complex Coal Preparation Plant's processing capacity was upgraded to 1,800 raw tons-per-hour (TPH) from its previous 1,600 raw TPH. Product coal from the Oaktown Mining Complex is transported to its customer base via rail, truck, or a combination of both. The Oaktown Complex Coal Preparation Plant is served by both the CSX Railroad and Indiana Railroad (INRD) via a rail spur and rail loop that connects the complex with the mainline rail just north of Oaktown, Indiana.
Additionally, the Oaktown Complex Coal Preparation Plant can facilitate the loading of trucks for direct transport to select customers, or to our transload facility in Princeton, Indiana serviced by the Norfolk Southern (NS) Railroad.
Sources of electrical power, water, supplies, and materials are readily available. Electrical power is provided to the mines and facilities by regional utility companies. Water is supplied by public water services, surface impoundments, or water wells.
Multiple permits are required by federal and state law for underground mining, coal preparation and related facilities, and other incidental activities. All necessary permits to support current operations are in place or pending approval. New permits or permit revisions may be necessary from time to time to facilitate future operations. Given sufficient time and planning, we should be able to secure new permits, as required, to maintain our planned operations within the context of the current regulations.
Permits generally require that the Company post a performance bond in an amount established by the regulator program to: (1) provide assurance that any disturbance or liability created during mining operation is properly mitigated, and (2) assure that all regulation requirements of the permit are fully satisfied. We hold surety bonds of $9.9 million to cover obligations relating to mining and reclamation, road repair, etc. at the Oaktown Mining Complex.
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Additional information is provided in the following table regarding the Oaktown Mining Complex mineral reserves:
| OAKTOWN MINING COMPLEX |
|---|
| Recoverable Coal Reserves as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 |
| As Received | As Received | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | SO2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Value | Content | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Btu/lb) | (lbs/MMBtu) | Owned | Leased | Recoverable Coal Reserves (As-Received) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mine/Reserve | Approximate | Approximate | (%) | (%) | Proven | Probable | 12/31/2023 | 12/31/2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oaktown Mining Complex | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine | 11,527 | 6.0 | — | 100.0 | 29.9 | 4.2 | 34.1 | 36.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine | 11,518 | 5.4 | — | 100.0 | 20.4 | 6.2 | 26.6 | 29.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 50.3 | 10.4 | 60.7 | 66.3 |
Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine
As of December 31, 2023, the assigned and accessible reserve base for the Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine contains 34.1 million tons of recoverable Indiana V seam coal, of which 34.1 million tons are currently permitted. The reserve contains saleable tons which average heating content of approximately 11,527 Btu per pound with approximately 6.0 pounds of sulfur dioxide per MMBtu on an as-received basis. Access to the Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine is via a 90-foot-deep box cut and a 2,200-foot long slope, which facilitates the egress of coals being mined in excess of 375 feet below the surface. Since beginning first commercial coal production in 2009, the mine workings have substantially grown, and an additional mine access (elevator) was constructed for employee and supply ingress/egress closer to the active production faces.
Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine
As of December 31, 2023, the assigned and accessible reserve base for the Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine contains 26.6 million tons of recoverable Indiana V seam coal, of which 21.3 million tons are currently permitted. The reserve contains saleable tons which average heating content of approximately 11,518 Btu per pound with approximately 5.4 pounds of sulfur dioxide per MMBtu on an as-received basis. Access to the Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine is via an 80-foot-deep box cut and 2,600-foot long slope, which facilitates the egress of coals being mined in excess of 400 feet below the surface. Since beginning first commercial coal production in 2013 the mines workings have substantially grown and, during 2021, an additional mine access (elevator) was constructed for employee and supply ingress/egress closer to the active production faces.
Tonnages are reported on a clean recoverable basis with average long-term pricing based on available third-party forecasts and historical pricing adjusted for quality at the end of 2023, with the coal sales price estimated over the life of the reserve averaging approximately $47 (ranging from $42.50 to $64 per short ton), which are the coal sales prices used by John T. Boyd Company to estimate the amount of coal mineral reserves for the Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine and Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine as listed above. Coal sales prices vary based on coal quality, access to transportation, and other factors at each location. All reserves are classified as underground mineable in the production stage.
The Company hereby incorporates by reference (i) the TRS, attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 10-K, including Section 6.3 thereof titled "Coal Reserves", as to the recoverable coal reserves reported above for the Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine and Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine; and (ii) letter, dated January 29, 2024, from John T. Boyd Company, attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this Form 10-K, providing an update of the Company's mineral reserves at the Oaktown Mining Complex as of December 31, 2023 and including a comparison of the Company's mineral reserves at the Oaktown Mining Complex as of December 31, 2023 and as of December 31, 2022.
Historical production for our Oaktown Mining Complex during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 is provided in the following table:
| Annual Saleable Production Tons | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Million Tons) | |||||||||||
| Mine/Reserve | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
| Oaktown Mining Complex | |||||||||||
| Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.5 | ||||||||
| Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.1 | ||||||||
| Total Oaktown Mining Complex Production | 6.4 | 6.4 | 5.6 |
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Other Properties
The Company holds other recoverable coal reserves in the ILB, which are not deemed individually material.
Ace in the Hole Mine (Ace) (surface) – Assigned
Ace Mine is now depleted. Remaining inventory of coal and base was moved to our Carlisle and Oaktown wash plants in early 2023. Reclamation resumed in the Spring of 2023. Phase 1 and 2 reclamation is substantially complete as of December 31, 2023.
Prosperity (surface) – Assigned
The Prosperity mine contains approximately 0.2 million tons of low sulfur coal needed to blend with our Oaktown coal to reduce the sulfur content to a salable level for Southeastern US markets. The mine opened in the summer of 2022. The mine produced coal and reclaimed the slurry pond and refuse pile left by the Prosperity underground mine. Additional reserves are in the area that may extend the life of this mine. In February 2024, this mine was temporarily idled.
Freelandville (surface) – Assigned
Sunrise is a contract miner at the Freelandville East Mine Center Pit, Permit No. S 358. Sunrise had an option through May 31, 2023 to assume the permit that contained approximately 1.7 million tons of salable coal with an additional 0.6 million available. Mining started in the fall of 2022 and continued through April 2023. In February 2024, this mine was idled.
Our Coal Contracts
In 2023, on a segment basis Sunrise sold 6.9 million tons of coal to 11 power plants in five different states across six different customers.
During 2023, on a segment basis we derived 94% of our revenue from five customers (11 power plants), with each of the five customers representing at least 10% of our coal sales. During 2022, on a segment basis we derived 90% of our revenue from five customers (10 power plants), with each of the five customers representing at least 10% of our coal sales.
Significant customers in 2023 include Vectren Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy (NYSE: CNP), Orlando Utility Commission (OUC), Alcoa Power Generating, Inc., a subsidiary of Alcoa Corporation (NYSE: AA), Alabama Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), and Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE: DUK).
Of our 2023 sales, on a segment basis 33%, excluding Merom Power Plant, were derived to locations in the State of Indiana.
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Our future coal commitments are as follows:
| 3rd Party | Merom Power Plant | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contracted | Contracted | Estimated | |||||||
| tons | tons | Priced | |||||||
| Year | (millions)* | (millions)* | Total | per ton | |||||
| 2024 | 3.4 | 1.5 | 4.9 | $ | 53.91 | ||||
| 2025 - 2028 (total) | 5.8 | 9.2 | 15.0 | ** | |||||
| Total | 9.2 | 10.7 | 19.9 |
______________________
* Contracted tons are subject to adjustment in instances of force majeure and exercise of customer options to either take additional tons or reduce tonnage if such option exists in the customer contract.
** Unpriced or partially priced committed tons
As of December 31, 2023, we are committed to supplying third-party customers up to a maximum of 9.2 million tons of coal through 2027 of which 6.2 million tons are priced. We are committed to supplying coal to Merom Power Plant up to a maximum of 10.7 million tons of coal through 2028. All committed tons to Merom are priced.
Based on the contracted tons described above, we anticipate our mines will need to produce at a 4.5 million ton annualized pace for the foreseeable future to meet the Merom plant and third-party market demand.
We expect to continue selling a significant portion of our coal under supply agreements with terms of one year or longer. Typically, customers enter into coal supply agreements to secure reliable sources of coal at predictable prices while we seek stable sources of revenue to support the investments required to open, expand and maintain, or improve productivity at the mines needed to supply these contracts. The terms of coal supply agreements result from competitive bidding and extensive negotiations with customers.
Some utility customers have proposed shuttering certain plant units or entire plants in the coming years. It remains to be seen whether these plans will be implemented.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As set forth in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, cash provided by operations was $59.4 million and $54.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 respectively. Operating cash flow increased due to an increase in operating margins at our coal mines brought on by the addition of higher priced contracts. This was offset by lower margins from our power plant and a decrease in working capital.
Our capital expenditure budget for 2024 is $43 million, of which the majority is for maintenance capex. Of the $43 million, the budget for coal operations is $25 million and the budget for electric operations is $18 million.
As of December 31, 2023, our bank debt was $91.5 million. On March 13, 2023, we executed an amendment to our credit agreement with PNC Bank, National Association (in its capacity as administrative agent, “PNC”), administrative agent for our lenders under our credit agreement. The primary purpose of the amendment was to convert $35 million of the revolver into a new term loan with a maturity of March 31, 2024, and extend the maturity date of the revolver to May 31, 2024. On August 2, 2023, we executed an additional amendment with PNC. The primary purpose of the amendment was to convert $65 million of the existing outstanding debt into a new term loan with a maturity of March 31, 2026, and enter into a revolver of $75 Million with a maturity date of July 31, 2026. Principal payments for the term loan were $3.3 million per quarter for September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2023, and $6.5 million per quarter starting March 31, 2024, through maturity. The effect of the amendment on our future cash flow is to extend the maturity date of $65.0 million of our outstanding debt to May 31, 2026, and our revolver to July 31, 2026.
We expect cash from operations generated primarily by our expected higher coal margins in 2023 to fund our capital expenditures and our debt service.
See Note 4 to our consolidated financial statements for additional discussion about our bank debt and related liquidity.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Other than our surety bonds for reclamation, we have no material off-balance sheet arrangements. We have recorded the present value of reclamation obligations of $16.6 million, including $5.2 million at Merom, presented as asset retirement obligations (ARO) in our accompanying balance sheets. In the event we are not able to perform reclamation, we have surety bonds in place totaling $37.5 million to cover ARO.
Capital Expenditures (capex)
For the year ended December 31, 2023, our capex was $75.4 million allocated as follows (in millions):
| Oaktown – maintenance capex | $ | 36.2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oaktown – investment | 18.3 | ||
| Prosperity mine | 0.8 | ||
| Freelandville mine | 1.2 | ||
| Merom plant | 18.8 | ||
| Other | 0.1 | ||
| Capex per the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | $ | 75.4 |
Results of Operations
Presentation of Segment Information
Our operations are divided into two primary reportable segments: Coal Operations and Electric Operations. The remainder of our operations, which are not significant enough on a stand-alone basis to warrant treatment as an operating segment, are presented as “Corporate and Other” within the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and primarily are comprised of unallocated corporate costs and activities, including a 50% interest in Sunrise Energy, LLC, a private gas exploration company with operations in Indiana, which we account for using the equity method, and our wholly-owned subsidiary Summit Terminal LLC, a logistics transport facility located on the Ohio River.
Coal Operations
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPERATING REVENUES: | $ | 435,425 | $ | 293,344 | |||
| EXPENSES: | |||||||
| Operating expenses | 311,041 | 236,416 | |||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 48,365 | 43,612 | |||||
| Asset retirement obligations accretion | 1,228 | 1,010 | |||||
| Exploration costs | 904 | 651 | |||||
| General and administrative | 10,287 | 7,919 | |||||
| Total operating expenses | 371,825 | 289,608 | |||||
| INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS | $ | 63,600 | $ | 3,736 |
Operating revenues from coal operations increased 48% over 2022 due in large part to unprecedented increases in natural gas prices. As a result, higher priced contracts sold in the summer of 2022 and delivered in Q4 of 2022 through all of 2023 increased our average sales price by $16.90 per ton from 2022. We also sold 581,000 additional tons over 2022 at the higher average price due to lower inventories and the higher gas prices.
Operating expenses increased, however, by ~$7.50 per ton. The addition of the higher cost Freelandville and Prosperity surface mines as well as significant inflationary pressures and geological conditions contributed significantly to the increased costs.
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Depreciation, depletion, and amortization increased 11%. The majority of this change is due to significant capital additions in the coal division.
General and administrative expenses increased 30% over 2022 due in large part to additional professional fees related to bank refinancing and additional audit requirements. Increased wages due to bonuses and incentives to retain and attract talent also contributed to the increased costs.
Electric Operations
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPERATING REVENUES: | $ | 268,341 | $ | 66,316 | |||
| EXPENSES: | |||||||
| Operating expenses | 231,560 | 29,608 | |||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 18,739 | 3,117 | |||||
| Asset retirement obligations accretion | 576 | — | |||||
| General and administrative | 4,914 | 2,086 | |||||
| Total operating expenses | 255,789 | 34,811 | |||||
| INCOME FROM OPERATIONS | $ | 12,552 | $ | 31,505 |
A comparative discussion is not relevant as the Electric Operations did not begin until the Merom Acquisition closed in October 2022.
Operating revenue is derived from sales to the Midcontinent Independent System Operator ("MISO") wholesale market and a power purchase agreement (PPA) signed with Hoosier in conjunction with the Merom Acquisition. The PPA included sales at fixed prices which were below market prices at the date we entered into the agreement. The power purchase agreement expires in 2025 and requires us to provide a fixed amount of power over the term of the agreement. As a result of the below market contract, we recorded a contract liability at the close of the acquisition totaling $184.5 million that will be amortized over the term of the agreement as the contract is fulfilled. For the years ended December 31, 2023, we recorded $70.5 million and $23.3 million, respectively of revenue as a result of amortizing the contract liability.
Operating expenses include coal purchased under an agreement signed with Hoosier in conjunction with the Merom acquisition at fixed prices which were below market prices at the date we entered into the agreement. The coal purchase agreement expired in May 2023 and required us to purchase a fixed amount of coal over the term of the agreement. As a result of the below market contract, we recorded a contract asset at the close of the acquisition totaling $34.3 million that was amortized over the term of the agreement as the contract was fulfilled. The contract asset was fully amortized with an asset value of $0 as of December 31, 2023. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we recorded $30.7 million and $3.6 million respectively in additional operating expense for coal purchased and used.
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The following tables presenting our quarterly results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. We have prepared the unaudited information on the same basis as our audited consolidated financial statements. Our operating results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of results for any future quarters or for a full year. The tables present our unaudited quarterly results of operations for the eight quarters ended December 31, 2023, and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, that we consider necessary for fair presentation of our consolidated operating results for the quarters presented.
| Mar-31 | Jun-30 | Sep-30 | Dec-31 | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | Total 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Coal sales | $ | 94,602 | $ | 88,574 | $ | 97,420 | $ | 81,330 | $ | 361,926 | ||||||||||
| Electric sales | 92,392 | 71,017 | 67,403 | 37,115 | 267,927 | |||||||||||||||
| Other revenues | 1,340 | 1,603 | 945 | 739 | 4,627 | |||||||||||||||
| Total revenue | 188,334 | 161,194 | 165,768 | 119,184 | 634,480 | |||||||||||||||
| EXPENSES: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | 133,521 | 115,420 | 119,042 | 105,407 | 473,390 | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 17,976 | 17,169 | 16,230 | 15,836 | 67,211 | |||||||||||||||
| Asset retirement obligations accretion | 451 | 461 | 468 | 424 | 1,804 | |||||||||||||||
| Exploration costs | 206 | 305 | 171 | 222 | 904 | |||||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 6,947 | 5,595 | 6,054 | 7,563 | 26,159 | |||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 159,101 | 138,950 | 141,965 | 129,452 | 569,468 | |||||||||||||||
| INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS | 29,233 | 22,244 | 23,803 | (10,268 | ) | 65,012 | ||||||||||||||
| Bank debt and other interest | (3,899 | ) | (3,541 | ) | (3,030 | ) | (3,241 | ) | (13,711 | ) | ||||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | — | — | (1,491 | ) | — | (1,491 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Equity method investment income | 69 | (217 | ) | (177 | ) | (227 | ) | (552 | ) | |||||||||||
| INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES | 25,403 | 18,486 | 19,105 | (13,736 | ) | 49,258 | ||||||||||||||
| INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT): | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Current | 432 | 61 | (178 | ) | (479 | ) | (164 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Deferred | 2,920 | 1,510 | 3,208 | (3,009 | ) | 4,629 | ||||||||||||||
| Total income tax expense (benefit) | 3,352 | 1,571 | 3,030 | (3,488 | ) | 4,465 | ||||||||||||||
| NET INCOME (LOSS) | $ | 22,051 | $ | 16,915 | $ | 16,075 | $ | (10,248 | ) | $ | 44,793 | |||||||||
| NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 0.67 | $ | 0.51 | $ | 0.49 | $ | (0.31 | ) | $ | 1.35 | |||||||||
| Diluted | $ | 0.61 | $ | 0.47 | $ | 0.44 | $ | (0.31 | ) | $ | 1.25 | |||||||||
| WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 32,983 | 33,137 | 33,140 | 33,245 | 33,133 | |||||||||||||||
| Diluted | 36,740 | 36,708 | 36,848 | 33,245 | 36,827 |
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| Mar-31 | Jun-30 | Sep-30 | Dec-31 | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | Total 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
| SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Coal sales | $ | 57,010 | $ | 64,161 | $ | 83,562 | $ | 84,643 | $ | 289,376 | ||||||||||
| Electric sales | — | — | — | 66,252 | 66,252 | |||||||||||||||
| Other revenues | 1,897 | 1,768 | 1,522 | 1,176 | 6,363 | |||||||||||||||
| Total revenue | 58,907 | 65,929 | 85,084 | 152,071 | 361,991 | |||||||||||||||
| EXPENSES: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | 54,601 | 51,394 | 64,557 | 96,056 | 266,608 | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 9,531 | 11,164 | 11,187 | 14,993 | 46,875 | |||||||||||||||
| Asset retirement obligations accretion | 246 | 250 | 255 | 259 | 1,010 | |||||||||||||||
| Exploration costs | 57 | 215 | 121 | 258 | 651 | |||||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 3,149 | 3,722 | 3,569 | 5,977 | 16,417 | |||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 67,584 | 66,745 | 79,689 | 117,543 | 331,561 | |||||||||||||||
| INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS | (8,677 | ) | (816 | ) | 5,395 | 34,528 | 30,430 | |||||||||||||
| Bank debt and other interest | (1,710 | ) | (1,770 | ) | (2,360 | ) | (2,438 | ) | (8,278 | ) | ||||||||||
| Amortization and swap related interest | (74 | ) | (567 | ) | (995 | ) | (1,098 | ) | (2,734 | ) | ||||||||||
| Equity method investment income | 150 | 188 | 168 | (63 | ) | 443 | ||||||||||||||
| INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES | (10,311 | ) | (2,965 | ) | 2,208 | 30,929 | 19,861 | |||||||||||||
| INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT): | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Current | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Deferred | (177 | ) | 421 | 596 | 916 | 1,756 | ||||||||||||||
| Total income tax expense (benefit) | (177 | ) | 421 | 596 | 916 | 1,756 | ||||||||||||||
| NET INCOME (LOSS) | $ | (10,134 | ) | $ | (3,386 | ) | $ | 1,612 | $ | 30,013 | $ | 18,105 | ||||||||
| NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | (0.33 | ) | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.91 | $ | 0.57 | ||||||||
| Diluted | $ | (0.33 | ) | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.83 | $ | 0.55 | ||||||||
| WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 30,785 | 30,785 | 32,983 | 32,983 | 32,043 | |||||||||||||||
| Diluted | 30,785 | 30,809 | 33,268 | 36,428 | 33,649 |
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Quarterly coal sales and cost data follow on a segment basis (in 000’s, except for per ton data and wash plant recovery percentage):
| All Mines | 1st 2023 | 2nd 2023 | 3rd 2023 | 4th 2023 | T4Qs | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tons produced | 2,006 | 1,723 | 1,594 | 1,331 | 6,654 | ||||||||||||||
| Tons sold | 1,693 | 1,714 | 2,054 | 1,461 | 6,922 | ||||||||||||||
| Coal sales | $ | 94,602 | $ | 112,171 | $ | 134,400 | $ | 91,714 | $ | 432,887 | |||||||||
| Average price per ton | $ | 55.88 | $ | 65.44 | $ | 65.43 | $ | 62.77 | $ | 62.54 | |||||||||
| Wash plant recovery in % | 70 | % | 67 | % | 65 | % | 62 | % | |||||||||||
| Operating costs | $ | 65,700 | $ | 71,168 | $ | 95,592 | $ | 78,581 | $ | 311,041 | |||||||||
| Average cost per ton | $ | 38.81 | $ | 41.52 | $ | 46.54 | $ | 53.79 | $ | 44.94 | |||||||||
| Margin | $ | 28,902 | $ | 41,003 | $ | 38,808 | $ | 13,133 | $ | 121,846 | |||||||||
| Margin per ton | $ | 17.07 | $ | 23.92 | $ | 18.89 | $ | 8.99 | $ | 17.60 | |||||||||
| Capex | $ | 12,639 | $ | 14,445 | $ | 11,570 | $ | 17,867 | $ | 56,521 | |||||||||
| Maintenance capex | $ | 7,778 | $ | 9,754 | $ | 7,938 | $ | 13,567 | $ | 39,037 | |||||||||
| Maintenance capex per ton | $ | 4.59 | $ | 5.69 | $ | 3.86 | $ | 9.29 | $ | 5.64 |
| All Mines | 1st 2022 | 2nd 2022 | 3rd 2022 | 4th 2022 | T4Qs | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tons produced | 1,397 | 1,762 | 1,663 | 1,721 | 6,543 | ||||||||||||||
| Tons sold | 1,377 | 1,595 | 1,705 | 1,664 | 6,341 | ||||||||||||||
| Coal sales | $ | 57,010 | $ | 64,161 | $ | 83,563 | $ | 84,641 | $ | 289,375 | |||||||||
| Average price per ton | $ | 41.40 | $ | 40.23 | $ | 49.01 | $ | 50.87 | $ | 45.64 | |||||||||
| Wash plant recovery in % | 67 | % | 71 | % | 69 | % | 68 | % | |||||||||||
| Operating costs | $ | 54,443 | $ | 50,776 | $ | 63,876 | $ | 67,319 | $ | 236,414 | |||||||||
| Average cost per ton | $ | 39.54 | $ | 31.83 | $ | 37.46 | $ | 40.46 | $ | 37.28 | |||||||||
| Margin | $ | 2,567 | $ | 13,385 | $ | 19,687 | $ | 17,322 | $ | 52,961 | |||||||||
| Margin per ton | $ | 1.86 | $ | 8.39 | $ | 11.55 | $ | 10.41 | $ | 8.35 | |||||||||
| Capex | $ | 9,082 | $ | 13,821 | $ | 15,096 | $ | 12,368 | $ | 50,367 | |||||||||
| Maintenance capex | $ | 4,481 | $ | 7,600 | $ | 6,625 | $ | 5,748 | $ | 24,454 | |||||||||
| Maintenance capex per ton | $ | 3.25 | $ | 4.76 | $ | 3.89 | $ | 3.45 | $ | 3.86 |
Quarterly electric sales and cost data (in thousands, except per MWh data) are provided below. Fixed costs in the table are considered "non-GAAP" and are a component of operating expenses, the most comparable GAAP measure. We consider fixed costs to be costs associated with the plant whether or not the plant is in operation.
| 1st 2023 | 2nd 2023 | 3rd 2023 | 4th 2023 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MWh sold | 1,262 | 1,043 | 1,307 | 612 | 4,224 | |||||||||||||||
| Capacity revenue | $ | 15,970 | $ | 17,155 | $ | 13,012 | $ | 10,018 | $ | 56,155 | ||||||||||
| Delivered energy and PPA revenue | 76,422 | 53,862 | 54,391 | 27,097 | 211,772 | |||||||||||||||
| Total electric sales | 92,392 | 71,017 | 67,403 | 37,115 | 267,927 | |||||||||||||||
| Less amortization of contract liability | (33,347 | ) | (19,555 | ) | (10,281 | ) | (7,347 | ) | (70,530 | ) | ||||||||||
| Total electric sales less amortization of contract liability | $ | 59,045 | $ | 51,462 | $ | 57,122 | $ | 29,768 | $ | 197,397 | ||||||||||
| Average price/MWh of delivered energy and PPA revenue less amortization of contract liability | $ | 34.13 | $ | 32.89 | $ | 33.75 | $ | 32.27 | $ | 35.18 | ||||||||||
| Operating expenses (on a segment basis) | $ | 67,682 | $ | 55,996 | $ | 64,172 | $ | 43,710 | $ | 231,560 | ||||||||||
| Less fixed costs | (12,807 | ) | (11,693 | ) | (11,858 | ) | (22,259 | ) | (58,617 | ) | ||||||||||
| Less amortization of contract asset | (17,778 | ) | (12,962 | ) | - | - | (30,740 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Operating expenses less fixed costs and amortization of contract asset | $ | 37,097 | $ | 31,341 | $ | 52,314 | $ | 21,451 | $ | 142,203 | ||||||||||
| Average variable cost/MWh of operating expenses less fixed costs and amortization of contract asset | $ | 29.40 | $ | 30.05 | $ | 40.03 | $ | 35.05 | $ | 33.44 | ||||||||||
| Energy and PPA margin less fixed costs and amortization of contract asset and liabilities | $ | 5,978 | $ | 2,966 | $ | (8,204 | ) | $ | (1,701 | ) | $ | (961 | ) | |||||||
| Energy & PPA margin/MWh less fixed costs amortization of contract asset and liabilities | $ | 4.74 | $ | 2.84 | $ | (6.28 | ) | $ | (2.78 | ) | $ | (0.23 | ) |
Critical Accounting Estimates
We believe that the estimates of coal reserves, asset retirement obligation liabilities, deferred tax accounts, valuation of inventory, treatment of business combinations, and the estimates used in impairment analysis are our critical accounting estimates.
The reserve estimates are used in the depreciation, depletion and amortization calculations and our internal cash flow projections. If these estimates turn out to be materially under or over-stated, our depreciation, depletion and amortization expense and impairment test may be affected. The process of estimating reserves is complex, requiring significant judgment in the evaluation of all available geological, geophysical, engineering and economic data. The reserve estimates are prepared by professional engineers, both internal and external, and are subject to change over time as more data becomes available. Changes in the reserves estimates from the prior year were nominal.
SMCRA and similar state statutes require, among other things, that surface disturbance be restored in accordance with specified standards and approved reclamation plans. SMCRA requires us to restore affected surface areas to approximate the original contours as contemporaneously as practicable with the completion of surface mining operations. Federal law and some states impose on mine operators the responsibility for replacing certain water supplies damaged by mining operations and repairing or compensating for damage to certain structures occurring on the surface as a result of mine subsidence, a consequence of longwall mining and possibly other mining operations.
Obligations are reflected at the present value of their future cash flows. We reflect accretion of the obligations for the period from the date they are incurred through the date they are extinguished. The ARO assets are amortized using the units-of-production method over estimated recoverable (proven and probable) reserves. We use credit-adjusted risk-free discount rates ranging from 7% to 10% to discount the obligation, inflation rates anticipated during the time to reclamation, and cost estimates prepared by its engineers inclusive of market risk premiums. Activities include reclamation of pit and support acreage at surface mines, sealing portals at underground mines, and reclamation of refuse areas and slurry ponds.
Accretion expense is recognized on the obligation through the expected settlement date. On at least an annual basis, we review our entire reclamation liability and make necessary adjustments for permit changes as granted by state authorities, changes in the timing and extent of reclamation activities, and revisions to cost estimates and productivity assumptions, to reflect current experience. Any difference between the recorded amount of the liability and the actual cost of reclamation will be recognized as a gain or loss when the obligation is settled.
We have analyzed our filing positions in all of the federal and state jurisdictions where we are required to file income tax returns, as well as all open tax years in these jurisdictions. We identified our federal tax return and our Indiana state tax return as “major” tax jurisdictions. We believe that our income tax filing positions and deductions would be sustained on audit and do not anticipate any adjustments that will result in a material change to our consolidated financial position. We have not taken any significant uncertain tax positions and our tax provision and returns are prepared by a large public accounting firm with significant experience in energy related industries. Changes to the estimates from reported amounts in the prior year were not significant.
Inventory is valued at lower of cost or net realizable value (NRV). Anticipated utilization of low sulfur, higher-cost coal from our Freelandville, and Prosperity mines has the potential to create NRV adjustments as our estimated needs change. The NRV adjustments are subject to change as our costs may fluctuate due to higher or lower production and our NRV may fluctuate based on sales contracts we enter into from time to time. There were no significant changes to our NRV adjustment estimates from the prior year.
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We account for business acquisitions as either asset acquisitions or business combination depending on the circumstances as outlined in ASC 805-50. For acquisitions accounted for as a business combination, we record the assets acquired, including identified intangible assets and liabilities assumed at their fair value. For acquisitions accounted for as asset acquisitions, we allocate the fair value of consideration exchanged in the transaction to each of the acquired assets based upon their relative fair value. Fair value in many instances involves estimates based on third-party valuations, such as appraisals, or internal valuations based on discounted cash flow analyses or other valuation techniques. Those estimates are subject to a high degree of uncertainty, thus we typically will retain professionals in the relevant industries of the acquiree to assist us with our analysis and valuations. See “Item 8. Financial Statements - Note 15 - Acquisition” for more information on the Merom Acquisition.
Long-lived assets used in operations are depreciated and assessed for impairment annually or whenever changes in facts and circumstances indicate a possible significant deterioration in future cash flows is expected to be generated by an asset group. For impairment assessments, management groups individual assets based on a judgmental assessment of the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets. The determination of the lowest level of cash flows is largely based on nature of production, common infrastructure, common sales points, common regulation and management oversight to make such determinations. These determinations could impact the determination and measurement of a potential asset impairment. Management evaluates assets for impairment through an established process in which changes to significant assumptions such as prices, volumes and future development plans are reviewed. If, upon review, the sum of the undiscounted pre-tax cash flows is less than the carrying value of the asset group, the carrying value is written down to estimated fair value. Because there usually is a lack of quoted market prices for long-lived assets, the fair value of impaired assets is typically determined based on the present values of expected future cash flows using discount rates believed to be consistent with those used by principal market participants. The expected future cash flows used for impairment reviews and related fair value calculations are typically based on judgmental assessments of future volumes, commodity prices, operating costs and capital investment plans, considering all available information at the date of review. Changes to any of the market-based assumptions can significantly affect estimates of undiscounted and discounted pre-tax cash flows and impact the recognition and amount of impairments.
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FY 2022 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001437749-23-006932.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
Our consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with this discussion. The following analysis includes a discussion of metrics on a per ton basis derived from the condensed consolidated financial statements, which are considered non-GAAP measurements. These metrics are significant factors in assessing our operating results and profitability.
OVERVIEW
Hallador Energy Company (the "Company" or "Hallador") is an energy company operating in the state of Indiana. Historically, the largest portion of our business has been devoted to coal mining in the State of Indiana through Sunrise Coal, LLC (a wholly-owned subsidiary) serving the electric power generation industry.
On October 21, 2022, the Company, through its subsidiary Hallador Power Company, LLC, completed its acquisition of the one Gigawatt ("GW") Merom Generating Station ("Merom") located in Sullivan County, Indiana pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") with Hoosier Energy (the "Seller").
As a result of the Merom acquisition, commencing with this Form 10-K, the Company has two reportable segments: coal operations (operated by Sunrise Coal, LLC) and electric operations (operated by Hallador Power Company, LLC).
In addition to our reportable segments, the remainder of our operations are presented as "Corporate and Other" and primarily are comprised of unallocated corporate costs in addition to activities such as a 50% interest in Sunrise Energy, LLC, a private gas exploration company with operations in Indiana, accounted for using the equity method, and our wholly-owned subsidiary Summit Terminal LLC, a logistics transport facility located on the Ohio River.
Fiscal year 2022 was a transitional year for Hallador. The market price for coal approached all-time highs. We were successful in signing 2.2 million tons of new coal sales contracts at an average price of ~$125 per ton in the summer of 2022, of which a small percentage of deliveries were completed in 2022 and will continue through 2025 with the majority contracted to be delivered in 2023. To fulfill these obligations, we invested substantially in 2022 to expand our coal production capacity from ~6 million tons annually to ~7.5 million tons in 2023.
In addition to our acquisition of Merom in Q4 2022 described above, we also expanded our coal production capacity by adding more units of production at our Oaktown Mining Complex, opening a small surface mine pit near Freelandville, Indiana ("Freelandville"), and moving our Ace in the Hole production to a small surface mine pit near Petersburg, Indiana ("Prosperity"). Freelandville and Prosperity production began in Q3 2022. Volumes from these new pits are expected to be higher cost, and our newer workforce and surface pits will require a ramp to reach peak productivity. We will continue to evaluate the productivity of these mines in connection with market conditions to determine the appropriate operational balance.
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To help fund our investment in expanded mine production, improve our liquidity, and position us to efficiently operate Merom, we issued $29 million of convertible notes, $10 million in Q2 2022 and $19 million in Q3 2022. The $10 million of notes issued in Q2 2022 have been converted into the Company's common stock, bringing our outstanding share count to 33.0 million shares as of December 31, 2022. If the additional notes issued in Q3 2022 were to also convert, our outstanding share count would increase to approximately 36.1 million shares, representing an approximate 17% increase in share count.
Bank debt was reduced during the year by $26.5 million bringing the balance owed at the end of fiscal 2022 to $85.2 million, bringing the Debt to EBITDA covenant under our credit agreement to 2.05X at the end of fiscal 2022. See Note 5 to our consolidated financial statements for additional discussion about our bank debt and related liquidity.
Mining Properties
The following information concerning our mining properties has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K, which first became applicable to us for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. These requirements differ from the previously applicable disclosure requirements of SEC Industry Guide 7. Among other differences, subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K requires us to disclose our mineral (coal) resources, which we have none, in addition to our mineral (coal) reserves, as of the end of our most recently completed fiscal year both in the aggregate and for each of our individually material mining properties.
As used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the terms “mineral resources,” “mineral reserve,” “proven mineral reserve” and “probable mineral reserve” are defined and used in accordance with subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K. Under subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K, mineral resources may not be classified as “mineral reserves” unless the determination has been made by a qualified person (QP) that the mineral resources can be the basis of an economically viable project. You are specifically cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits (including any mineral resources) in these categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves, as defined by the SEC.
Internal qualified person(s) have estimated the Company’s mineral reserves and mineral resources based on geologic data, coal ownership (control) information, and current and/or proposed operating plans. Periodic updates occur to mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates attributableto revised mine plans, new exploration data, depletion from coal production, property acquisitions or dispositions, and/or other geologic or mining data. Sunrise’s estimates of mineral reserves are proven and probable reserves that could be extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination, economically, legally, and after considering all material modifying factors. Modifications or updates of the estimates of the Company’s mineral reserves is limited to qualified geologists and mining engineers. All modifications or updates of the estimates of recoverable coal reserves are documented. The John T. Boyd Company, a qualified person firm, has assessed the Company’s estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources and supporting information. Based upon the review, John T. Boyd Company provided modification to the Company’s estimates of mineral reserves where warranted.
The information that follows is derived, for the most part, from, and in some instances is extracted from, the Oaktown Mining Complex technical report summary (“TRS”) that was filed with our 2021 Annual Report on form 10-K and a subsequent update letter from John T. Boyd Company. There were no material adjustments to the coal resources and reserves necessitating the filing of an amended or revised TRS. The Oaktown Mining Complex is the Company’s individually material property. Sections of the following information provided herein do not fully describe assumptions, qualifications, and procedures. Reference should be made to the full text of the TRS which is made a part of this Annual report on Form 10-K and incorporated hereby by reference. The Oaktown Mining Complex TRS was prepared by the John T. Boyd Company in compliance with the Item 60(b)(96) and subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K.
The following table provides a summary of all of the Company’s mineral reserves determined by the John T. Boyd Company as of the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022:
SUMMARY MINERAL RESERVES AT END OF THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022
| Mineral Reserves (tons in millions) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proven | Probable | Total | |||||||||
| Oaktown Mining Complex | |||||||||||
| Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine | 36.2 | 0.5 | 36.7 | ||||||||
| Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine | 28.5 | 1.1 | 29.6 | ||||||||
| Total | 64.7 | 1.6 | 66.3 |
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Oaktown Mining Complex
The Oaktown Mining Complex is a coal mining and processing operation located in Knox and Sullivan counties, Indiana, and Crawford and Lawrence counties, Illinois. The following figure shows the general location of the Oaktown Mining Complex:
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Comprising 118 square miles within the ILB coal-producing region of the mid-western United States, the Oaktown Mining Complex is one of the largest underground Room-and-Pillar (R&P) coal mining complexes in North America. The Oaktown Mining Complex operations currently consist of two active underground mines - Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine and Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine - and related infrastructure. Geographically, the Oaktown Complex Coal Preparation Plant is located at approximately 28°51’24.7” N latitude and 87°25’30.9” W longitude. Within the Oaktown Mining Complex area and immediate vicinity, our Company controls approximately 75,000 acres of mineral rights. This control exists as a complex collection of leases that apply to more than 2,000 tracts. Each of which range from less than an acre to several hundred acres in size. Ownership of the surface rights and the mineral rights is often severed for the properties and the estates are often fractions, in which mineral rights are split between several owners. The Company and its predecessors have acquired the necessary rights to support development and operations through purchase or lease agreements with predominately private owners or entities. As part of the Oaktown Mining Complex, the Company controls surface rights through fee simple ownership for over 1,700 permitted acres. Upon those acres resides the surface facilities for mine accesses, processing, storing, shipping, and refuse disposal facilities (i.e., refuse impoundment site and fine refuse injection sites). Our involvement with the Oaktown Mining Complex dates to 2014 with the acquisition of Oaktown Fuels No. 1 and No. 2 Mines from Vectren Fuels.
Each mine of the Oaktown Mining Complex utilizes R&P mining (employing Continuous Miners, or CM) for primary production. This mining method is highly productive and commercially demonstrated; it has been one of the primary approaches to underground mining the Indiana V Seam for decades. Oaktown Mining Complex has utilized this mining method since the inception of each operation. To date, Oaktown Mining Complex has produced a combined 64.7 million tons of clean coal. The complex is configured to operate up to 7 CM sections, with an annual production target of approximately 7 million product tons. The Oaktown Complex Coal Preparation Plant serves as the coal washing and shipment facility for the Oaktown Mining Complex’s two R&P mines. The plant was commissioned in 2009 to wash coal by the Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine. The Oaktown Complex Coal Preparation Plant's processing capacity is in the process of being upgraded to 1,800 raw tons-per-hour (TPH) from its current 1,600 raw TPH. Product coal from the Oaktown Mining Complex is transported to its customer base via rail, truck, or a combination of both. The Oaktown Complex Coal Preparation Plant is served by both the CSX Railroad and Indiana Railroad (INRD) via a rail spur and rail loop that connects the complex with the mainline rail just north of Oaktown, Indiana.
Additionally, the Oaktown Complex Coal Preparation Plant can facilitate the loading of trucks for direct transport to select customers, or to our transload facility in Princeton, Indiana serviced by the Norfolk Southern (NS) Railroad.
Sources of electrical power, water, supplies, and materials are readily available. Electrical power is provided to the mines and facilities by regional utility companies. Water is supplied by public water services, surface impoundments, or water wells.
Multiple permits are required by federal and state law for underground mining, coal preparation and related facilities, and other incidental activities. All necessary permits to support current operations are in place or pending approval. New permits or permit revisions may be necessary from time to time to facilitate future operations. Given sufficient time and planning, we should be able to secure new permits, as required, to maintain our planned operations within the context of the current regulations.
Permits generally require that the Company post a performance bond in an amount established by the regulator program to: (1) provide assurance that any disturbance or liability created during mining operation is properly mitigated, and (2) assure that all regulation requirements of the permit are fully satisfied. We hold surety bonds to cover obligations relating to mining and reclamation, road repair, etc. Those obligations are currently estimated at $6.8 million.
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Additional information is provided in the following table regarding the Oaktown Mining Complex mineral reserves:
| OAKTOWN MINING COMPLEX |
|---|
| Recoverable Coal Reserves as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 |
| As Received | As Received | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | SO2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Value | Content | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Btu/lb) | (lbs/MMBtu) | Owned | Leased | Recoverable Coal Reserves (As-Received) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mine/Reserve | Approximate | Approximate | (%) | (%) | Proven | Probable | 12/31/2022 | 12/31/2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oaktown Mining Complex | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine | 11,522 | 6.1 | — | 100.0 | 36.2 | 0.5 | 36.7 | 40.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine | 11,534 | 5.7 | — | 100.0 | 28.5 | 1.1 | 29.6 | 30.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 64.7 | 1.6 | 66.3 | 71.4 |
Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine
The assigned and accessible reserve base for the Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine contains 36.7 million tons of recoverable Indiana V seam coal, of which 36.7 million tons are currently permitted. The reserve contains saleable tons which average heating content of approximately 11,522 Btu per pound with approximately 6.1 pounds of sulfur dioxide per MMBtu on an as-received basis. Access to the Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine is via a 90-foot-deep box cut and a 2,200-foot slope, which facilitates the egress of coals being mined in excess of 375 feet below the surface. Since beginning first commercial coal production in 2009, the mine workings have substantially grown, and an additional mine access (elevator) was constructed for employee and supply ingress/egress closer to the active production faces.
Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine
The assigned and accessible reserve base for the Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine contains 29.7 million tons of recoverable Indiana V seam coal, of which 23.8 million tons are currently permitted. The reserve contains saleable tons which average heating content of approximately 11,534 Btu per pound with approximately 5.7 pounds of sulfur dioxide per MMBtu on an as-received basis. Access to the Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine is via an 80-foot-deep box cut and 2,600-foot slope, which facilitates the egress of coals being mined in excess of 400 feet below the surface. Since beginning first commercial coal production in 2013 the mines workings have substantially grown and, during 2021, an additional mine access (elevator) has been constructed for employee and supply ingress/egress closer to the active production faces.
Historical production for our Oaktown Mining Complex during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020 is provided in the following table:
| Annual Saleable Production Tons | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Million Tons) | |||||||||||
| Mine/Reserve | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
| Oaktown Mining Complex | |||||||||||
| Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine | 3.9 | 3.5 | 3.4 | ||||||||
| Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine | 2.5 | 2.1 | 1.8 | ||||||||
| Total Oaktown Mining Complex Production | 6.4 | 5.6 | 5.2 |
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Other Properties
The Company holds other recoverable coal reserves in the ILB, which are not deemed individually material.
Ace in the Hole Mine (Ace) (surface) – Assigned
Ace Mine is now depleted. Remaining inventory of coal and base is scheduled to be moved to our Carlisle and Oaktown wash plants in early 2023. Reclamation will resume in the Spring of 2023. We expect Phase 1 reclamation should be substantially complete by the end of 2023.
Ace in the Hole Mine #2 Reserves (surface) – Unassigned
In 2018, we leased property giving us 1.0 million controlled, saleable tons at a new location 2 miles southwest of our Ace in the Hole mine. Future mine development is being reviewed along with other opportunities.
Prosperity (surface) – Assigned
The Prosperity mine contains approximately 0.3 million tons of low sulfur coal needed to blend with our Oaktown coal to reduce the sulfur content to a salable level for Southeastern US markets. The mine opened in the summer of 2022. The mine is producing coal and also reclaiming the slurry pond and refuse pile left by the Prosperity underground mine. Additional reserves are in the area that may extend the life of this mine. Currently the mine is projected to produce approximately 20,000 tons per month until mid-2024.
Freelandville (surface) – Assigned
Sunrise is a contract miner at the Freelandville East Mine Center Pit, Permit No. S 358. Sunrise has an option through May 31, 2023 to assume the permit. The permit contains approximately 1.7 million tons of salable coal with an additional 0.6 million available. Mining started in the fall of 2022. Once the mine reaches full capacity in March of 2023 the mine is expected to produce approximately 40,000 salable tons per month.
Our Coal Contracts
In 2022, Sunrise sold 6.3 million tons of coal to 14 power plants in five different states across nine different customers.
During 2022, we derived 90% of our revenue from five customers (10 power plants), with each of the five customers representing at least 10% of our coal sales. During 2021, we derived 95% of our revenue from five customers (10 power plants), with each of the five customers representing at least 10% of our coal sales.
Significant customers in 2022 include Vectren Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy (NYSE: CNP), Orlando Utility Commission (OUC), Alcoa Power Generating, Inc., a subsidiary of Alcoa Corporation (NYSE: AA), Indianapolis Power & Light Company (IPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES), and Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE: DUK).
Of our 2022 sales, 74% were shipped to locations in the State of Indiana.
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In the summer of 2022, customer coal inventories and natural gas (a competitor to coal) inventory levels were lower than normal. Customers paid near record prices in 2022 to secure limited fuel supply. We invested in expanding our mining production to meet the demand. As discussed above we have opened the Prosperity and Freelandville surface mines to meet the demand resulting in contracts being signed raising our estimated average sales price for 2023 to $58.70 per ton.
| Contracted | Estimated | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| tons | price | ||||||
| Year | (millions)* | per ton | |||||
| 2023 | 7.5 | $ | 58.70 | ||||
| 2024 - 2027 (total) | 7.3 | ** | |||||
| Total | 14.8 |
______________________
* Contracted tons are subject to adjustment in instances of force majeure and exercise of customer options to either take additional tons or reduce tonnage if such option exists in the customer contract.
** Unpriced or partially priced tons
As of December 31, 2022, we are committed to supplying our customers up to a maximum of 14.8 million tons of coal through 2027 of which 10.8 million tons are priced.
Beginning in 2024, with the acquisition of the Merom power plant, we have the optionality to sell up to 3.0 million tons of our coal directly to the Merom plant, which would be in addition to the contracted tons to our third party customers described above. We anticipate our mines will need to produce at a 7 million-ton annualized pace for the foreseeable future to meet the Merom plant and third party market demand.
We expect to continue selling a significant portion of our coal under supply agreements with terms of one year or longer. Typically, customers enter into coal supply agreements to secure reliable sources of coal at predictable prices while we seek stable sources of revenue to support the investments required to open, expand and maintain, or improve productivity at the mines needed to supply these contracts. The terms of coal supply agreements result from competitive bidding and extensive negotiations with customers.
Some utility customers have proposed shuttering certain plant units or entire plants in the coming years. It remains to be seen whether these plans will be implemented.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As set forth in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, cash provided by operations was $54.2 million and $48.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 respectively. Operating cash flow increased primarily due to an increase in operating margins at our coal mines brought on by the addition of higher priced contracts in the summer of 2022. Operating margin per ton at our coal mines increased in 2022 to $8.35 per ton from $7.35 per ton in 2021, increasing operating cash flow by $7.6 million.
Our capital expenditure budget for 2023 is $69 million, of which $35 million is for maintenance capex. Of the $69 million, the budget for coal operations is $34 million and the budget for electric operations is $35 million.
We paid down debt of $26.5 million in 2022. As of December 31, 2022, our bank debt was $85.2 million. On March 13, 2023, we executed an amendment to our credit agreement with PNC Bank, National Association (in its capacity as administrative agent, "PNC"), administrative agent for our lenders under our credit agreement. The primary purpose of the amendment is to convert $35 million of the revolver into a new term loan with a maturity of March 31, 2024 (with principal payments of $10.0 million due by June 30, 2023; $10.0 million by September 30, 2023; $10.0 million by December 31, 2023, and $5.0 million by March 31, 2024), and extend the maturity date of the revolver to May 31, 2024. The effect of the amendment on our future cash flow is to extend the maturity date of $44.7 million of our outstanding debt as of December 31, 2022 to May 2024. In addition, the amendment reduced the total capacity under the revolver to $85.0 million (previously $120 million). Subsequent to the amendment, the current portion of our outstanding debt as of December 31, 2022 is $35.5 million.
We expect cash from operations generated primarily by our expected higher coal margins in 2023 to fund our capital expenditures and our debt service.
See Note 5 to our consolidated financial statements for additional discussion about our bank debt and related liquidity.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Other than our surety bonds for reclamation, we have no material off-balance sheet arrangements. We have recorded the present value of reclamation obligations of $20.8 million, including $7.2 million at Merom, presented as asset retirement obligations (ARO) in our accompanying balance sheets. In the event we are not able to perform reclamation, we have surety bonds in place totaling $36.9 million to cover ARO.
Capital Expenditures (capex)
For the year ended December 31, 2022, our capex was $54.0 million allocated as follows (in millions):
| Oaktown – maintenance capex | $ | 21.0 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oaktown – investment | 22.1 | ||
| Prosperity mine | 3.6 | ||
| Freelandville mine | 2.5 | ||
| Merom plant | 3.7 | ||
| Other | 1.1 | ||
| Capex per the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | $ | 54.0 |
Results of Operations
Presentation of Segment Information
Our operations are divided into two primary reportable segments: coal operations and electric operations. The remainder of our operations, which are not significant enough on a stand-alone basis to warrant treatment as an operating segment, are presented as "Corporate and Other" within the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and primarily are comprised of unallocated corporate costs and activities, including a 50% interest in Sunrise Energy, LLC, a private gas exploration company with operations in Indiana, which we account for using the equity method, and our wholly-owned subsidiary Summit Terminal LLC, a logistics transport facility located on the Ohio River.
Coal Operations
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPERATING REVENUES: | $ | 293,344 | $ | 246,396 | ||||
| EXPENSES: | ||||||||
| Operating expenses | 236,416 | 198,442 | ||||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 43,612 | 39,829 | ||||||
| Asset impairment | — | 1,588 | ||||||
| Asset retirement obligations accretion | 1,010 | 1,504 | ||||||
| Asset retirement obligations change in estimate | — | (3,510 | ) | |||||
| Exploration costs | 651 | 482 | ||||||
| General and administrative | 7,919 | 6,069 | ||||||
| Total operating expenses | 289,608 | 244,404 | ||||||
| INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS | 3,736 | 1,992 |
Operating revenues from coal operations increased 19% over 2021 due in large part to unprecedented increases in natural gas prices. As a result, higher priced contracts sold in the summer of 2022 and delivered in Q4 of 2022 increased our average sales price by over $6 per ton from 2021. We also sold 168,000 additional tons over 2022 at the higher average price due to lower inventories and the higher gas prices.
Operating expenses increased, however, by ~$5 per ton. The addition of the higher cost Freelandville and Prosperity surface mines as well as significant inflationary pressures contributed significantly to the increased costs. We continue to experience significant onboarding of new employees which takes time provide training and gain the experience to reach maximum productivity which is also contributing to higher costs.
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Depreciation, depletion, and amortization increased 9% as a significant amount of our assets are depreciated and amortized based on production which increased approximately 13% over 2021.
Changes in asset retirement obligation accretion and change in estimate are a result of a review in 2021 that determined the liabilities we have recorded and the future liabilities were overstated due to a change in estimate when factoring time to reclamation, discount rates used, and inflationary factors used. Our review in 2022 did not result in any significant adjustments.
General and administrative expenses increased 30% over 2022 due in large part to additional professional fees related to bank refinancing and additional audit requirements. Increased wages due to bonuses and incentives to retain and attract talent also contributed to the increased costs.
Electric Operations
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPERATING REVENUES: | $ | 66,316 | $ | — | |||
| EXPENSES: | |||||||
| Operating expenses | 29,608 | — | |||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 3,117 | — | |||||
| General and administrative | 2,086 | — | |||||
| Total operating expenses | 34,811 | — | |||||
| INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS | 31,505 | — |
A comparative discussion is not relevant as the Electric Operations did not begin until the Merom Acquisition closed in October 2022.
Operating revenue is derived from a power purchase agreement signed with Hoosier in conjunction with the Merom Acquisition at fixed prices which were below market prices at the date we entered into the agreement. The power purchase agreement expires in 2025 and requires us to provide a fixed amount of power over the term of the agreement. As a result of the below market contract, we recorded a contract liability at the close of the acquisition totaling $184.5 million that will be amortized over the term of the agreement as the contract is fulfilled. For the year ended December 31, 2022, we recorded $23.3 million of revenue as a result of amortizing the contract liability.
Operating expenses include coal purchased under an agreement signed with Hoosier in conjunction with the Merom acquisition at fixed prices which were below market prices at the date we entered into the agreement. The coal purchase agreement expires in May 2023 and requires us to purchase a fixed amount of coal over the term of the agreement. As a result of the below market contract, we recorded a contract asset at the close of the acquisition totaling $34.3 million that will be amortized over the term of the agreement as the contract is fulfilled. For the year ended December 31, 2022, we recorded $3.6 million in additional operating expense for coal purchased and used and an additional $11.2 million to inventory for coal purchased and unused as a result of amortizing the contract asset.
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The following tables presenting our quarterly results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. We have prepared the unaudited information on the same basis as our audited consolidated financial statements. Our operating results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of results for any future quarters or for a full year. The tables present our unaudited quarterly results of operations for the eight quarters ended December 31, 2022, and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, that we consider necessary for fair presentation of our consolidated operating results for the quarters presented.
| Mar-31 | Jun-30 | Sep-30 | Dec-31 | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | Total 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
| SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Coal sales | $ | 57,010 | $ | 64,161 | $ | 83,562 | $ | 84,643 | $ | 289,376 | ||||||||||
| Electric sales | — | 0 | — | 66,252 | 66,252 | |||||||||||||||
| Other revenues | 1,897 | 1,768 | 1,522 | 1,176 | 6,363 | |||||||||||||||
| Total revenue | 58,907 | 65,929 | 85,084 | 152,071 | 361,991 | |||||||||||||||
| EXPENSES: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | 54,601 | 51,394 | 64,557 | 96,056 | 266,608 | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 9,531 | 11,164 | 11,187 | 14,993 | 46,875 | |||||||||||||||
| Asset retirement obligations accretion | 246 | 250 | 255 | 259 | 1,010 | |||||||||||||||
| Exploration costs | 57 | 215 | 121 | 258 | 651 | |||||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 3,149 | 3,722 | 3,569 | 5,977 | 16,417 | |||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 67,584 | 66,745 | 79,689 | 117,543 | 331,561 | |||||||||||||||
| INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS | (8,677 | ) | (816 | ) | 5,395 | 34,528 | 30,430 | |||||||||||||
| Bank debt and other interest | (1,710 | ) | (1,770 | ) | (2,360 | ) | (2,438 | ) | (8,278 | ) | ||||||||||
| Amortization and swap related interest | (74 | ) | (567 | ) | (995 | ) | (1,098 | ) | (2,734 | ) | ||||||||||
| Equity method investment income | 150 | 188 | 168 | (63 | ) | 443 | ||||||||||||||
| INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES | (10,311 | ) | (2,965 | ) | 2,208 | 30,929 | 19,861 | |||||||||||||
| INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT): | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Current | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Deferred | (177 | ) | 421 | 596 | 916 | 1,756 | ||||||||||||||
| Total income tax expense (benefit) | (177 | ) | 421 | 596 | 916 | 1,756 | ||||||||||||||
| NET INCOME (LOSS) | $ | (10,134 | ) | $ | (3,386 | ) | $ | 1,612 | $ | 30,013 | $ | 18,105 | ||||||||
| NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | (0.33 | ) | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.91 | $ | 0.57 | ||||||||
| Diluted | $ | (0.33 | ) | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.83 | $ | 0.55 | ||||||||
| WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 30,785 | 30,785 | 32,983 | 32,983 | 32,043 | |||||||||||||||
| Diluted | 30,785 | 30,809 | 33,268 | 36,428 | 33,649 |
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| Mar-31 | Jun-30 | Sep-30 | Dec-31 | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2021 | 2021 | 2021 | Total 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
| SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Coal sales | $ | 45,879 | $ | 54,600 | $ | 79,036 | $ | 64,388 | $ | 243,903 | ||||||||||
| Other revenues | 816 | 1,038 | 786 | 1,123 | 3,763 | |||||||||||||||
| Total revenue | 46,695 | 55,638 | 79,822 | 65,511 | 247,666 | |||||||||||||||
| EXPENSES: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | 34,009 | 42,456 | 67,792 | 54,583 | 198,840 | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 10,307 | 9,715 | 9,842 | 10,109 | 39,973 | |||||||||||||||
| Asset impairment | — | — | — | 1,588 | 1,588 | |||||||||||||||
| Asset retirement obligations accretion | 363 | 373 | 380 | 388 | 1,504 | |||||||||||||||
| Asset retirement obligations change in estimate | — | — | — | (3,510 | ) | (3,510 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Exploration costs | 58 | 159 | 96 | 169 | 482 | |||||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 2,821 | 3,383 | 3,067 | 5,562 | 14,833 | |||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 47,558 | 56,086 | 81,177 | 68,889 | 253,710 | |||||||||||||||
| LOSS FROM OPERATIONS | (863 | ) | (448 | ) | (1,355 | ) | (3,378 | ) | (6,044 | ) | ||||||||||
| Bank debt and other interest | (2,135 | ) | (2,307 | ) | (2,167 | ) | (1,901 | ) | (8,510 | ) | ||||||||||
| Amortization and swap related interest | 237 | 125 | 59 | 41 | 462 | |||||||||||||||
| Gain on extinguishment of debt | — | — | 10,000 | — | 10,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Equity method investment income | — | 63 | 90 | 211 | 364 | |||||||||||||||
| INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES | (2,761 | ) | (2,567 | ) | 6,627 | (5,027 | ) | (3,728 | ) | |||||||||||
| INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT): | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Current | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Deferred | (1,729 | ) | 397 | (1,359 | ) | 2,717 | 26 | |||||||||||||
| Total income tax expense (benefit) | (1,729 | ) | 397 | (1,359 | ) | 2,717 | 26 | |||||||||||||
| NET INCOME (LOSS) | $ | (1,032 | ) | $ | (2,964 | ) | $ | 7,986 | $ | (7,744 | ) | $ | (3,754 | ) | ||||||
| NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted | $ | (0.03 | ) | $ | (0.10 | ) | $ | 0.26 | $ | (0.25 | ) | $ | (0.12 | ) |
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Quarterly coal sales and cost data follow (in 000’s, except for per ton data and wash plant recovery percentage):
| All Mines | 1st 2022 | 2nd 2022 | 3rd 2022 | 4th 2022 | T4Qs | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tons produced | 1,397 | 1,762 | 1,663 | 1,721 | 6,543 | ||||||||||||||
| Tons sold | 1,377 | 1,595 | 1,705 | 1,664 | 6,341 | ||||||||||||||
| Coal sales | $ | 57,010 | $ | 64,161 | $ | 83,563 | $ | 84,641 | $ | 289,375 | |||||||||
| Average price per ton | $ | 41.40 | $ | 40.23 | $ | 49.01 | $ | 50.87 | $ | 45.64 | |||||||||
| Wash plant recovery in % | 67 | % | 71 | % | 69 | % | 68 | % | |||||||||||
| Operating costs | $ | 54,443 | $ | 50,776 | $ | 63,876 | $ | 67,319 | $ | 236,414 | |||||||||
| Average cost per ton | $ | 39.54 | $ | 31.83 | $ | 37.46 | $ | 40.46 | $ | 37.28 | |||||||||
| Margin | $ | 2,567 | $ | 13,385 | $ | 19,687 | $ | 17,322 | $ | 52,961 | |||||||||
| Margin per ton | $ | 1.86 | $ | 8.39 | $ | 11.55 | $ | 10.41 | $ | 8.35 | |||||||||
| Capex | $ | 9,082 | $ | 13,821 | $ | 15,096 | $ | 12,368 | $ | 50,367 | |||||||||
| Maintenance capex | $ | 4,481 | $ | 7,600 | $ | 6,625 | $ | 5,748 | $ | 24,454 | |||||||||
| Maintenance capex per ton | $ | 3.25 | $ | 4.76 | $ | 3.89 | $ | 3.45 | $ | 3.86 |
| All Mines | 1st 2021 | 2nd 2021 | 3rd 2021 | 4th 2021 | T4Qs | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tons produced | 1,592 | 1,292 | 1,440 | 1,447 | 5,771 | ||||||||||||||
| Tons sold | 1,174 | 1,403 | 2,042 | 1,554 | 6,173 | ||||||||||||||
| Coal sales | $ | 45,879 | $ | 54,600 | $ | 79,036 | $ | 64,388 | $ | 243,903 | |||||||||
| Average price per ton | $ | 39.08 | $ | 38.92 | $ | 38.71 | $ | 41.43 | $ | 39.51 | |||||||||
| Wash plant recovery in % | 74 | % | 69 | % | 73 | % | 70 | % | |||||||||||
| Operating costs | $ | 33,907 | $ | 42,364 | $ | 67,694 | $ | 54,583 | $ | 198,548 | |||||||||
| Average cost per ton | $ | 28.88 | $ | 30.20 | $ | 33.15 | $ | 35.12 | $ | 32.16 | |||||||||
| Margin | $ | 11,972 | $ | 12,236 | $ | 11,342 | $ | 9,805 | $ | 45,355 | |||||||||
| Margin per ton | $ | 10.20 | $ | 8.72 | $ | 5.55 | $ | 6.31 | $ | 7.35 | |||||||||
| Capex | $ | 5,720 | $ | 5,117 | $ | 7,238 | $ | 9,975 | $ | 28,050 | |||||||||
| Maintenance capex | $ | 2,343 | $ | 1,049 | $ | 2,324 | $ | 3,302 | $ | 9,018 | |||||||||
| Maintenance capex per ton | $ | 2.00 | $ | 0.75 | $ | 1.14 | $ | 2.12 | $ | 1.46 |
Critical Accounting Estimates
We believe that the estimates of our coal reserves, our asset retirement obligation liabilities, our deferred tax accounts, our valuation of inventory, our treatment of business combinations, and the estimates used in our impairment analysis are our critical accounting estimates.
The reserve estimates are used in the depreciation, depletion and amortization calculations and our internal cash flow projections. If these estimates turn out to be materially under or over-stated, our depreciation, depletion and amortization expense and impairment test may be affected. The process of estimating reserves is complex, requiring significant judgment in the evaluation of all available geological, geophysical, engineering and economic data. The reserve estimates are prepared by professional engineers, both internal and external, and are subject to change over time as more data becomes available. Changes in the reserves estimates from the prior year were nominal.
We have analyzed our filing positions in all of the federal and state jurisdictions where we are required to file income tax returns, as well as all open tax years in these jurisdictions. We identified our federal tax return and our Indiana state tax return as “major” tax jurisdictions. We believe that our income tax filing positions and deductions would be sustained on audit and do not anticipate any adjustments that will result in a material change to our consolidated financial position. We have not taken any significant uncertain tax positions and our tax provision and returns are prepared by a large public accounting firm with significant experience in energy related industries. Changes to the estimates from reported amounts in the prior year were not significant.
Inventory is valued at lower of cost or net realizable value (NRV). Anticipated utilization of low sulfur, higher-cost coal from our Ace in the Hole, Freelandville, and Prosperity mines has the potential to create NRV adjustments as our estimated needs change. The NRV adjustments are subject to change as our costs may fluctuate due to higher or lower production and our NRV may fluctuate based on sales contracts we enter into from time to time. There were no significant changes to our NRV adjustment estimates from the prior year.
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We account for business acquisitions as either asset acquisitions or business combination depending on the circumstances as outlined in ASC 805-50. For acquisitions accounted for as a business combination, we record the assets acquired, including identified intangible assets and liabilities assumed at their fair value. For acquisitions accounted for as asset acquisitions, we allocate the fair value of consideration exchanged in the transaction to each of the acquired assets based upon their relative fair value. Fair value in many instances involves estimates based on third-party valuations, such as appraisals, or internal valuations based on discounted cash flow analyses or other valuation techniques. Those estimates are subject to a high degree of uncertainty, thus we typically will retain professionals in the relevant industries of the acquiree to assist us with our analysis and valuations. See "Item 8. Financial Statements - Note 16 - Acquisition" for more information on the Merom Acquisition.
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FY 2021 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001437749-22-007411.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
Our consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with this discussion. The following analysis includes a discussion of metrics on a per ton basis derived from the condensed consolidated financial statements, which are considered non-GAAP measurements. These metrics are significant factors in assessing our operating results and profitability.
COVID-19
In the first quarter of 2020, COVID-19 emerged as a global pandemic. The State of Indiana, where our operations are located, issued a shelter in place order from March 24, 2020, to May 4, 2020. The State deemed our operations necessary and essential, and we were allowed to operate as a supplier to critical power infrastructure. We continue to monitor the ongoing pandemic and note that if conditions deteriorate in the future, it could negatively impact our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.
We have instituted many policies and procedures, in alignment with CDC guidelines along with state and local mandates, to protect our employees during the COVID-19 outbreak. We plan to keep these policies and procedures in place, in accordance with CDC, state, and local guidelines, and continually evaluate further enhancements for as long as necessary. We recognize that the COVID-19 outbreak, and responses thereto, will also impact both our customers and suppliers. As world economies have emerged from both the global pandemic and the power outages in Texas last winter, supplies have become more challenging to secure. At times we have paid premiums for supplies to ensure no interruptions to our production.
As vaccines for COVID-19 continue to become readily available, we intend to continue encouraging our workforce to get vaccinated, and we are hopeful that the case rate of our employees will continue to decline, and economic activity in general will continue to accelerate. We continue to offer cash incentives to employees who show proof of vaccination.
OVERVIEW
The largest portion of our business is devoted to coal mining in the State of Indiana through Sunrise Coal, LLC (a wholly-owned subsidiary) serving the electric power generation industry. We also own a 50% interest in Sunrise Energy, LLC, a private gas exploration company with operations in Indiana, which we account for using the equity method.
On February 15th, 2022, Hallador Energy announced its new wholly-owned subsidiary, Hallador Power Company, LLC, will acquire Hoosier Energy’s 1-Gigawatt Merom Generating Station ("Merom"), located in Sullivan County, Indiana, in return for assuming certain decommissioning costs and environmental responsibilities. The transaction, which includes a 3.5-year power purchase agreement (PPA), is scheduled to close in mid-July 2022 upon obtaining required governmental and financial approvals.
Per the agreement, Hoosier will purchase 100% of the plant’s energy and capacity through May 2023, reducing purchases to 22% of energy output and 32% of its capacity beginning in June 2023 and through 2025. The existing renewable PPA – signed in May 2021 and representing 150 MW of solar generation and 50 MW of battery storage – will be retained, with its start date delayed until Merom’s eventual retirement.
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Going forward, Hallador Energy will have two primary subsidiaries: Sunrise Coal, LLC and Hallador Power Company, LLC. All coal production assets will remain with Sunrise Coal. Hallador Power Company will hold assets associated with electricity production, including, but not limited to, the Merom Generating Station, Power Purchase Agreements and Interconnection rights.
We anticipate operating Merom post-closing in mid-July of 2022. Hallador will provide little coal to the plant in 2022 but anticipates increasing Sunrise Coal’s sales to Merom in 2023 and beyond.
We expect Hallador Power to contribute little to Hallador Energy profits in 2022. However, this acquisition is significant starting in 2023, and we believe Hallador Power will double Hallador Energy’s EBITDA.
Mining Properties
The following information concerning our mining properties has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K, which first became applicable to us for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. These requirements differ from the previously applicable disclosure requirements of SEC Industry Guide 7. Among other differences, subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K requires us to disclose our mineral (coal) resources, which we have none, in addition to our mineral (coal) reserves, as of the end of our most recently completed fiscal year both in the aggregate and for each of our individually material mining properties.
As used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the terms “mineral resources,” “mineral reserve,” “proven mineral reserve” and “probable mineral reserve” are defined and used in accordance with subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K. Under subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K, mineral resources may not be classified as “mineral reserves” unless the determination has been made by a qualified person (QP) that the mineral resources can be the basis of an economically viable project. You are specifically cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits (including any mineral resources) in these categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves, as defined by the SEC.
Internal qualified person(s) have estimated the Company’s mineral reserves and mineral resources based on geologic data, coal ownership (control) information, and current and/or proposed operating plans. Periodic updates occur to mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates attributableto revised mine plans, new exploration data, depletion from coal production, property acquisitions or dispositions, and/or other geologic or mining data. Sunrise’s estimates of mineral reserves are proven and probable reserves that could be extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination, economically, legally, and after considering all material modifying factors. Modifications or updates of the estimates of the Company’s mineral reserves is limited to qualified geologists and mining engineers. All modifications or updates of the estimates of recoverable coal reserves are documented. The John T. Boyd Company, a qualified person firm, has assessed the Company’s estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources and supporting information. Based upon the review, John T. Boyd Company provided modification to the Company’s estimates of mineral reserves where warranted.
The information that follows is derived, for the most part, from, and in some instances is extracted from, the Oaktown Mining Complex technical report summary (“TRS”). The Oaktown Mining Complex is the Company’s individually material property. Sections of the following information provided herein do not fully describe assumptions, qualifications, and procedures. Reference should be made to the full text of the TRS which is made a part of this Annual report on Form 10-K and incorporated hereby by reference. The Oaktown Mining Complex TRS was prepared by the John T. Boyd Company in compliance with the Item 60(b)(96) and subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K.
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The following table provides a summary of all of the Company’s mineral reserves determined by the John T. Boyd Company as of the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021:
SUMMARY MINERAL RESERVES AT END OF THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021
| Mineral Reserves (tons in millions) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proven | Probable | Total | ||||
| Oaktown Mining Complex | ||||||
| Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine | 40.1 | 0.4 | 40.5 | |||
| Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine | 29.7 | 1.2 | 30.9 | |||
| Total | 69.8 | 1.6 | 71.4 |
Oaktown Mining Complex
The Oaktown Mining Complex is a coal mining and processing operation located in Knox and Sullivan counties, Indiana, and Crawford and Lawrence counties, Illinois. The following figure shows the general location of the Oaktown Mining Complex:
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Comprising 118 square miles within the ILB coal-producing region of the mid-western United States, the Oaktown Mining Complex is one of the largest underground Room-and-Pillar (R&P) coal mining complexes in North America. The Oaktown Mining Complex operations currently consist of two active underground mines - Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine and Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine - and related infrastructure. Geographically, the Oaktown Complex Coal Preparation Plant is located at approximately 28°51’24.7” N latitude and 87°25’30.9” W longitude. Within the Oaktown Mining Complex area and immediate vicinity, our Company controls approximately 75,000 acres of mineral rights. This control exists as a complex collection of leases that apply to more than 2,000 tracts. Each of which range from less than an acre to several hundred acres in size. Ownership of the surface rights and the mineral rights is often severed for the properties and the estates are often fractions, in which mineral rights are split between several owners. The Company and its predecessors have acquired the necessary rights to support development and operations through purchase or lease agreements with predominately private owners or entities. As part of the Oaktown Mining Complex, the Company controls surface rights through fee simple ownership for over 1,700 permitted acres. Upon those acres resides the surface facilities for mine accesses, processing, storing, shipping, and refuse disposal facilities (i.e., refuse impoundment site and fine refuse injection sites). Our involvement with the Oaktown Mining Complex dates to 2014 with the acquisition of Oaktown Fuels No. 1 and No. 2 Mines from Vectren Fuels.
Each mine of the Oaktown Mining Complex utilizes R&P mining (employing Continuous Miners [CM]) for primary production. This mining method is highly productive and commercially demonstrated; it has been one of the primary approaches to underground mining the Indiana V Seam for decades. Oaktown Mining Complex has utilized this mining method since the inception of each operation. To date, Oaktown Mining Complex has produced a combined 58.3 million tons of clean coal. The complex is configured to operate up to 7 CM sections, with an annual production target of approximately 6-7 million product tons. The Oaktown Complex Coal Preparation Plant serves as the coal washing and shipment facility for the Oaktown Mining Complex’s two R&P mines. The plant was commissioned in 2009 to wash coal by the Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine. The Oaktown Complex Coal Preparation Plant has a current processing capacity of 1,600 raw tons-per-hour (TPH). Product coal from the Oaktown Mining Complex is transported to its customer base via rail, truck, or a combination of both. The Oaktown Complex Coal Preparation Plant is served by both the CSX Railroad and Indiana Railroad (INRD) via a rail spur and rail loop that connects the complex with the mainline rail just north of Oaktown, Indiana.
Additionally, the Oaktown Complex Coal Preparation Plant can facilitate the loading of trucks for direct transport to select customers, or to our transload facility in Princeton, Indiana serviced by the Norfolk Southern (NS) Railroad.
Sources of electrical power, water, supplies, and materials are readily available. Electrical power is provided to the mines and facilities by regional utility companies. Water is supplied by public water services, surface impoundments, or water wells.
Multiple permits are required by federal and state law for underground mining, coal preparation and related facilities, and other incidental activities. All necessary permits to support current operations are in place or pending approval. New permits or permit revisions may be necessary from time to time to facilitate future operations. Given sufficient time and planning, we should be able to secure new permits, as required, to maintain our planned operations within the context of the current regulations.
Permits generally require that the Company post a performance bond in an amount established by the regulator program to: (1) provide assurance that any disturbance or liability created during mining operation is properly mitigated, and (2) assure that all regulation requirements of the permit are fully satisfied. We hold surety bonds to cover obligations relating to mining and reclamation, road repair, etc. Those obligations are currently estimated at $5.8 million.
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Additional information is provided in the following table regarding the Oaktown Mining Complex mineral reserves:
| OAKTOWN MINING COMPLEX | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recoverable Coal Reserves as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
| As Received | As Received | |||||||||||||||
| Heat | SO2 | |||||||||||||||
| Value | Content | |||||||||||||||
| (Btu/lb) | (lbs/MMBtu) | Owned | Leased | Recoverable Coal Reserves (As-Received) | ||||||||||||
| Mine/Reserve | Approximate | Approximate | (%) | (%) | Proven | Probable | 12/31/2021 | 12/31/2020 | ||||||||
| Oaktown Mining Complex | ||||||||||||||||
| Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine | 11,519 | 6.0 | — | 100.0 | 40.1 | 0.4 | 40.5 | 45.3 | ||||||||
| Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine | 11,540 | 5.6 | — | 100.0 | 29.7 | 1.2 | 30.9 | 34.9 | ||||||||
| Total Recoverable Coal Reserves | 69.8 | 1.6 | 71.4 | 80.2 |
Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine
The assigned and accessible reserve base for the Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine contains 40.5 million tons of recoverable Indiana V seam coal, of which 40.5 million tons are currently permitted. The reserve contains saleable tons which average heating content of approximately 11,519 Btu per pound with approximately 6.0 pounds of sulfur dioxide per MMBtu on an as-received basis. Access to the Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine is via a 90-foot-deep box cut and a 2,200-foot slope, which facilitates the egress of coals being mined in excess of 375 feet below the surface. Since beginning first commercial coal production in 2009, the mine workings have substantially grown, and an additional mine access (elevator) was constructed for employee and supply ingress/egress closer to the active production faces.
Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine
The assigned and accessible reserve base for the Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine contains 30.9 million tons of recoverable Indiana V seam coal, of which 25.6 million tons are currently permitted. The reserve contains saleable tons which average heating content of approximately 11,540 Btu per pound with approximately 5.6 pounds of sulfur dioxide per MMBtu on an as-received basis. Access to the Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine is via an 80-foot-deep box cut and 2,600-foot slope, which facilitates the egress of coals being mined in excess of 400 feet below the surface. Since beginning first commercial coal production in 2013 the mines workings have substantially grown and, during 2021, an additional mine access (elevator) has been constructed for employee and supply ingress/egress closer to the active production faces.
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Historical production for our Oaktown Mining Complex during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019 is provided in the following table:
| Annual Saleable Production Tons | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Million Tons) | ||||||
| Mine/Reserve | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||
| Oaktown Mining Complex | ||||||
| Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine | 3.5 | 3.4 | 4.2 | |||
| Oaktown Fuels No. 2 Mine | 2.1 | 1.8 | 2.3 | |||
| Total Oaktown Mining Complex Production | 5.6 | 5.2 | 6.5 |
Other Properties
The Company holds other recoverable coal reserves in the ILB, which are not deemed individually material.
Ace in the Hole Mine (Ace) (surface) – Assigned
We have 0.05 million controlled, saleable tons at our Ace mine. The Ace mine is near Clay City, Indiana in Clay County and 50 road miles northeast of the Oaktown Mine. The two primary seams are low sulfur coal (~2# SO2), which make up the vast majority of the tons controlled. Mine development began in late December 2012, and we began shipping coal in late August 2013. We truck low sulfur coal from Ace to Oaktown toblend with high sulfur coal. Many utilities in the southeastern U.S. have scrubbers with lower sulfur limits (4.5# SO2) which cannot accept the higher sulfur contents of the ILB (4.5# - 6.5# SO2). Blending high sulfur coal to a lower sulfur specification enables us to market our high sulfur coals to more customers.
The Ace mine is a multi-seam open pit strip mine. The majority of the seams are sold raw, but some of the seams will be washed prior to sales, depending on quality. To convert the tons sold raw, the in-place tonnage is multiplied by a pit recovery of 95% based on seam thickness. To convert the tons sold washed, the in-place tonnage is multiplied by a pit recovery based on seam thickness then reduced by the projected wash plant recovery of 78% to 100% depending on the seam.
We will complete mining operations at Ace in the Hole Mine in 2022.
Ace in the Hole Mine #2 Reserves (surface) – Unassigned
In 2018, we leased property giving us 1.0 million controlled, saleable tons at a new location 2 miles southwest of our Ace in the Hole mine. Future mine development is being reviewed along with other opportunities.
Asset Impairment Review
See Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements.
Our Coal Contracts
In 2021, Sunrise sold 6.2 million tons of coal to 14 power plants in four different states across nine different customers.
During 2021, we derived 95% of our revenue from five customers (10 power plants), with each of the five customers representing at least 10% of our coal sales. During 2020, we derived 79% of our revenue from four customers (6 power plants), with each of the four customers representing at least 10% of our coal sales.
Significant customers in 2021 include Vectren Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy (NYSE: CNP), Orlando Utility Commission (OUC), Alcoa Power Generating, Inc., a subsidiary of Alcoa Corporation (NYSE: AA), Indianapolis Power & Light Company (IPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES), and Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE: DUK).
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Of our 2021 sales, 73% were shipped to locations in the State of Indiana.
Upon closing the purchase of the Merom Power Plant, we anticipate Hallador Power Company consuming 45% of Sunrise Coal’s production by 2024.
In Q4 2021, customer coal inventories and natural gas (a competitor to coal) inventory levels were both lower than normal. Customers returned to market this year, and we are increasing production to meet the increasing demand. We are increasing production to 7 million clean tons annually starting in 2022 and expect to maintain that pace into the foreseeable future.
| Contracted | Estimated | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| tons | price | ||||||
| Year | (millions)* | per ton | |||||
| 2022 | 6.8 | $ | 39.81 | ||||
| 2023 | 5.3 | $ | 43.10 | ||||
| 2024 - 2027 | 6.3 | ** | |||||
| Total | 18.4 |
* Contracted tons are subject to adjustment in instances of force majeure and exercise of customer options to either take additional tons or reduce tonnage if such option exists in the customer contract.
** Unpriced or partially priced tons
Of significant note, both the reopening of the economy post Covid-19 related lockdowns and the supply disruption created by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine have significantly increased demand for U.S. steam coal. This has led to higher pricing both for coal and electricity. All of our 2022 coal and electricity supply is priced, but we anticipate participating in higher coal and electricity prices in 2023.
We expect to continue selling a significant portion of our coal under supply agreements with terms of one year or longer. Typically, customers enter into coal supply agreements to secure reliable sources of coal at predictable prices while we seek stable sources of revenue to support the investments required to open, expand and maintain, or improve productivity at the mines needed to supply these contracts. The terms of coal supply agreements result from competitive bidding and extensive negotiations with customers.
Some utility customers have proposed shuttering certain plant units or entire plants in the coming years. It remains to be seen whether these plans will be implemented. Upon completion of the acquisition of the Merom Power Plant from Hoosier Energy, we anticipate our mines will need to produce at a 7 million-ton annualized pace for several years.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As set forth in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, cash provided by operations was $48.0 million and $52.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 respectively. Operating cash flow decreased primarily due to a reduction in operating margins brought on by lower pricing and increased costs. Operating margin per ton decreased in 2021 to $7.35/ton from $9.49/ton in 2020, reducing operating cash flow by $11.3 million. This reduction was offset by changes in certain working capital items, specifically our significant inventory reduction from 2020.
Our capital expenditure budget for 2022 is $25 million, of which $15 million is for maintenance capex. We also have scheduled payments on long-term debt totaling $25.7 million. We expect cash from operations for 2022 and the utilization of our revolver, if necessary, to fund our maintenance capital expenditures and our debt service.
In 4Q21, we generated lower than expected EBITDA due to elevated cash costs related to: i) a temporary decrease in efficiency, as new hires were integrated into the workforce to support more shifts required to fulfill the significant increase in contracted tonnage, and ii) a lower yield on coal mined due to mining of a coal face ~10.5 miles away from the slope. We amended our bank agreement in March 2022 to provide covenant relief to maintain our liquidity levels as costs are anticipated to improve in 2022.
See Note 5 to our consolidated financial statements for additional discussion about our bank debt and related liquidity.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Other than our surety bonds for reclamation, we have no material off-balance sheet arrangements. We have recorded reclamation obligations of $14.1 million, with the long-term portion presented as asset retirement obligations (ARO) and the remainder in accounts payable and accrued liabilities in our accompanying balance sheets. In the event we are not able to perform reclamation, we have surety bonds in place totaling $23.5 million to cover ARO.
Capital Expenditures (capex)
For the year ended December 31, 2021, our capex was $28.1 million allocated as follows (in millions):
| Oaktown – maintenance capex | $ | 9.0 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oaktown – investment | 19.0 | ||
| Other | 0.1 | ||
| Capex per the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | $ | 28.1 |
Results of Operations
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| I. | 2021 Net Loss of $3.8 million. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| a. | Sales: We shipped 6.2 million tons during 2021, an increase over the 6.0 million tons shipped in 2020. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| i. | Coal inventory was reduced by $17.0 million during the year. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| b. | Production: 2021 production costs were $32.16/ton. 2020 costs were slightly better at $31.07/ton. Oaktown costs over that same period were $30.34 and $29.84, respectively. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| i. | In November 2021, we completed construction and put into service an employee and supply hoist closer to the operating face reducing travel time and related labor costs. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ii. | We experienced supply chain disruptions with some vendors, causing us to pay premium prices for some of our inputs. We expect these increases to dissipate throughout 2022. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| c. | Cash Flow & Debt: We generated $48.0 million in operating cash flow during the year, which we utilized to pay down our bank debt by $26.0 million. The Small Business Administration notified us in the third quarter of 2021 that the entire $10 million borrowed under the Paycheck Protection Program had been completely forgiven. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| i. | As of December 31, 2021, our bank debt was $111.7 million, bringing our liquidity to $33.4 million and our leverage ratio to 2.34X, within our covenant of 3.0X. |
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The following tables presenting our quarterly results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. We have prepared the unaudited information on the same basis as our audited consolidated financial statements. Our operating results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of results for any future quarters or for a full year. The tables present our unaudited quarterly results of operations for the eight quarters ended December 31, 2021, and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, that we consider necessary for fair presentation of our consolidated operating results for the quarters presented.
| Mar-31 | Jun-30 | Sep-30 | Dec-31 | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2021 | 2021 | 2021 | Total 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
| SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Coal sales | $ | 45,879 | $ | 54,600 | $ | 79,036 | $ | 64,388 | $ | 243,903 | ||||||||||
| Other revenues | 816 | 1,038 | 786 | 1,123 | 3,763 | |||||||||||||||
| Total revenue | 46,695 | 55,638 | 79,822 | 65,511 | 247,666 | |||||||||||||||
| EXPENSES: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | 34,009 | 42,456 | 67,792 | 54,583 | 198,840 | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 10,307 | 9,715 | 9,842 | 10,109 | 39,973 | |||||||||||||||
| Asset impairment | — | — | — | 1,588 | 1,588 | |||||||||||||||
| Asset retirement obligations accretion | 363 | 373 | 380 | 388 | 1,504 | |||||||||||||||
| Asset retirement obligations change in estimate | — | — | — | (3,510 | ) | (3,510 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Exploration costs | 58 | 159 | 96 | 169 | 482 | |||||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 2,821 | 3,383 | 3,067 | 5,562 | 14,833 | |||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 47,558 | 56,086 | 81,177 | 68,889 | 253,710 | |||||||||||||||
| LOSS FROM OPERATIONS | (863 | ) | (448 | ) | (1,355 | ) | (3,378 | ) | (6,044 | ) | ||||||||||
| Bank interest | (2,135 | ) | (2,307 | ) | (2,167 | ) | (1,901 | ) | (8,510 | ) | ||||||||||
| Non-cash interest | 237 | 125 | 59 | 41 | 462 | |||||||||||||||
| Gain on extinguishment of debt | — | — | 10,000 | — | 10,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Equity method investment income | — | 63 | 90 | 211 | 364 | |||||||||||||||
| INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES | (2,761 | ) | (2,567 | ) | 6,627 | (5,027 | ) | (3,728 | ) | |||||||||||
| INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT): | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Current | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Deferred | (1,729 | ) | 397 | (1,359 | ) | 2,717 | 26 | |||||||||||||
| Total income tax expense (benefit) | (1,729 | ) | 397 | (1,359 | ) | 2,717 | 26 | |||||||||||||
| NET INCOME (LOSS) | $ | (1,032 | ) | $ | (2,964 | ) | $ | 7,986 | $ | (7,744 | ) | $ | (3,754 | ) | ||||||
| NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted | $ | (0.03 | ) | $ | (0.10 | ) | $ | 0.26 | $ | (0.25 | ) | $ | (0.12 | ) | ||||||
| WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted | 30,611 | 30,613 | 30,613 | 30,618 | 30,614 |
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| Mar-31 | Jun-30 | Sep-30 | Dec-31 | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2020 | 2020 | 2020 | Total 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
| SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Coal sales | $ | 61,932 | $ | 50,473 | $ | 64,754 | $ | 64,925 | $ | 242,084 | ||||||||||
| Other revenues | 551 | 377 | 493 | 736 | 2,157 | |||||||||||||||
| Total revenue | 62,483 | 50,850 | 65,247 | 65,661 | 244,241 | |||||||||||||||
| EXPENSES: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | 48,469 | 36,165 | 46,570 | 54,753 | 185,957 | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 10,627 | 10,217 | 9,315 | 9,485 | 39,644 | |||||||||||||||
| Asset Impairment | — | — | 1,799 | — | 1,799 | |||||||||||||||
| Asset retirement obligations accretion | 333 | 343 | 348 | 357 | 1,381 | |||||||||||||||
| Exploration costs | 253 | 208 | 174 | 133 | 768 | |||||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 2,978 | 2,678 | 3,131 | 2,807 | 11,594 | |||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 62,660 | 49,611 | 61,337 | 67,535 | 241,143 | |||||||||||||||
| INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS | (177 | ) | 1,239 | 3,910 | (1,874 | ) | 3,098 | |||||||||||||
| Bank interest | (2,654 | ) | (2,842 | ) | (2,714 | ) | (2,443 | ) | (10,653 | ) | ||||||||||
| Non-cash interest | (3,060 | ) | 8 | 385 | 290 | (2,377 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Equity method investment income (loss) | 55 | 1,231 | (119 | ) | (113 | ) | 1,054 | |||||||||||||
| INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES | (5,836 | ) | (364 | ) | 1,462 | (4,140 | ) | (8,878 | ) | |||||||||||
| INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT): | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Current | (524 | ) | — | (74 | ) | — | (598 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Deferred | (1,652 | ) | (618 | ) | (387 | ) | 597 | (2,060 | ) | |||||||||||
| Total income tax expense (benefit) | (2,176 | ) | (618 | ) | (461 | ) | 597 | (2,658 | ) | |||||||||||
| NET INCOME (LOSS) | $ | (3,660 | ) | $ | 254 | $ | 1,923 | $ | (4,737 | ) | $ | (6,220 | ) | |||||||
| NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted | $ | (0.12 | ) | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.06 | $ | (0.15 | ) | $ | (0.20 | ) | |||||||
| WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted | 30,420 | 30,423 | 30,465 | 30,475 | 30,446 |
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Quarterly coal sales and cost data follow (in 000’s, except for per ton data and wash plant recovery percentage):
| All Mines | 1st 2021 | 2nd 2021 | 3rd 2021 | 4th 2021 | T4Qs | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tons produced | 1,592 | 1,292 | 1,440 | 1,447 | 5,771 | ||||||||||||||
| Tons sold | 1,174 | 1,403 | 2,042 | 1,554 | 6,173 | ||||||||||||||
| Coal sales | $ | 45,879 | $ | 54,600 | $ | 79,036 | $ | 64,388 | $ | 243,903 | |||||||||
| Average price/ton | $ | 39.08 | $ | 38.92 | $ | 38.71 | $ | 41.43 | $ | 39.51 | |||||||||
| Wash plant recovery in % | 74 | % | 69 | % | 73 | % | 70 | % | |||||||||||
| Operating costs | $ | 33,907 | $ | 42,364 | $ | 67,694 | $ | 54,583 | $ | 198,548 | |||||||||
| Average cost/ton | $ | 28.88 | $ | 30.20 | $ | 33.15 | $ | 35.12 | $ | 32.16 | |||||||||
| Margin | $ | 11,972 | $ | 12,236 | $ | 11,342 | $ | 9,805 | $ | 45,355 | |||||||||
| Margin/ton | $ | 10.20 | $ | 8.72 | $ | 5.55 | $ | 6.31 | $ | 7.35 | |||||||||
| Capex | $ | 5,720 | $ | 5,117 | $ | 7,238 | $ | 9,975 | $ | 28,050 | |||||||||
| Maintenance capex | $ | 2,343 | $ | 1,049 | $ | 2,324 | $ | 3,302 | $ | 9,018 | |||||||||
| Maintenance capex/ton | $ | 2.00 | $ | 0.75 | $ | 1.14 | $ | 2.12 | $ | 1.46 |
| All Mines | 1st 2020 | 2nd 2020 | 3rd 2020 | 4th 2020 | T4Qs | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tons produced | 1,701 | 1,468 | 1,234 | 1,233 | 5,636 | ||||||||||||||
| Tons sold | 1,526 | 1,244 | 1,585 | 1,613 | 5,968 | ||||||||||||||
| Coal sales | $ | 61,932 | $ | 50,473 | $ | 64,754 | $ | 64,925 | $ | 242,084 | |||||||||
| Average price/ton | $ | 40.58 | $ | 40.57 | $ | 40.85 | $ | 40.25 | $ | 40.56 | |||||||||
| Wash plant recovery in % | 74 | % | 76 | % | 71 | % | 68 | % | |||||||||||
| Operating costs | $ | 48,334 | $ | 36,001 | $ | 46,444 | $ | 54,640 | $ | 185,419 | |||||||||
| Average cost/ton | $ | 31.67 | $ | 28.94 | $ | 29.30 | $ | 33.87 | $ | 31.07 | |||||||||
| Margin | $ | 13,598 | $ | 14,472 | $ | 18,310 | $ | 10,285 | $ | 56,665 | |||||||||
| Margin/ton | $ | 8.91 | $ | 11.63 | $ | 11.55 | $ | 6.38 | $ | 9.49 | |||||||||
| Capex | $ | 5,999 | $ | 4,006 | $ | 3,995 | $ | 6,661 | $ | 20,661 | |||||||||
| Maintenance capex | $ | 3,470 | $ | 2,578 | $ | 1,365 | $ | 2,342 | $ | 9,755 | |||||||||
| Maintenance capex/ton | $ | 2.27 | $ | 2.07 | $ | 0.86 | $ | 1.45 | $ | 1.63 |
2021 v. 2020
For 2021, we sold 6,173,000 tons at an average price of $39.51/ton. For 2020, we sold 5,968,000 tons an average price of $40.56/ton. The decrease in average price per ton results from our changing contract mix caused by the expiration of contracts and the acquisition of new contracts. 2022 pricing is expected to be comparable to 2021 at approximately $40 per ton. 2023 pricing is expected to improve as we take advantage of the higher pricing environment and is projected at just over $43 per ton based on the current tons under contract.
Operating expenses for our coal mines averaged $32.16/ton and $31.07/ton for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Oaktown costs over the periods were $30.34 and $29.84, respectively. The majority of our production cost increase was a result of approaching the end of our Ace in the Hole Mine’s reserve life. We anticipate the Ace reserve reaching its end in mid-2022 and being replaced with a new reserve. At Oaktown, we added 17% to our workforce as we begin to increase production from a 6.2 million-ton pace to over 7 million tons annually. It will take time and training for our new workforce to reach top efficiency and productivity. Additionally, as expected and announced, adding a new production unit required mining through challenging conditions during Q4 2021 and completed in Q1 2022. We expect operating costs for our coal mines to be elevated in Q1 2022, but to average $29-$31 per ton for the full year 2022.
Operating expenses associated with the idled Prosperity mine were $1.0 million for both years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. We expect operating costs to be $1.0 million in 2022.
Other revenues increased $1.6 million in 2021. Coal storage contracts and deferral fees charged for tons carried over from 2020 account for $0.8 million. The remainder represents royalty income on owned minerals that we began collecting in mid-2020.
General and administrative expenses increased $3.2 million in 2021 as a result of increased legal and financing costs associated with the Merom Power Plant acquisition and other projects. We expect general and administrative expenses for 2022 to remain elevated at $13 - $14 million while we complete the Merom Power Plant acquisition.
Our Sunrise Coal employees and contractors totaled 797 at December 31, 2021, compared to 682 at December 31, 2020. As previously stated, the significant increase is due to increased demand for our coal going forward.
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Signs of Improvement for the Coal Market
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| I. | Natural Gas - Forward Nymex gas prices (a competitor to coal) average $5.11 for the remainder of 2022, $4.05 for 2023 and $3.51 for 2024. These gas prices cause coal plants to dispatch prior to gas especially in Indiana where ~80% of our coal is sold. Gas prices are significantly higher than recent history and should remain strong until additional production occurs. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| II. | Coal Exports - U.S. export prices are significantly higher than recent history due to energy shortfalls in Asia and Europe, resulting in very strong exports in comeing years. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| a. | API 4 (Asia) |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021: | Mid $80s / tonne |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022: | $202 / tonne |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023: | $151 / tonne |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024: | $106 / tonne |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025: | $95 / tonne |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| b. | API 2 (Europe) |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021: | Mid $60s / tonne |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022: | $228 / tonne |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023: | $170 / tonne |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024: | $116 / tonne |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025: | $98 / tonne |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| III. | Utility Coal Inventories - Coal inventories at power plants remain well below historical averages. As coal demand stays strong and coal supply is limited, inventories should remain low for the foreseeable future. |
MSHA Reimbursements
Some of our legacy coal contracts allow us to pass on to our customers certain costs incurred resulting from changes in costs to comply with mandates issued by MSHA or other government agencies. After applying the provisions of ASU 2014-09, as of December 31, 2021, we do not consider unreimbursed costs from our customers related to these compliance matters to be material and have constrained such amounts and will recognize them when they can be estimated with reasonable certainty.
Income Taxes
Our effective tax rate (ETR) for 2021 was (1%) compared to 30% for 2020. The tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 are not predictive of future tax rates. Our ETR differs from the statutory rate due to statutory depletion in excess of tax basis, PPP loan forgiveness, return to provision adjustments, and changes in the valuation allowance. The deduction for statutory percentage depletion does not necessarily change proportionately to changes in income (loss) before income taxes.
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Critical Accounting Estimates
We believe that the estimates of our coal reserves, our interest rate swaps, our asset retirement obligation liabilities, our deferred tax accounts, and the estimates used in our impairment analysis are our only critical accounting estimates.
The reserve estimates are used in the depreciation, depletion and amortization calculations and in our internal cash flow projections. If these estimates turn out to be materially under or over-stated, our depreciation, depletion and amortization expense and impairment test may be affected.
The fair value of our interest rate swaps and asset retirement obligation liabilities is determined using a discounted future cash flow model based on the key assumption of anticipated future interest rates and related credit adjustment considerations.
We have analyzed our filing positions in all federal and state jurisdictions where we are required to file income tax returns, and all open tax years in these jurisdictions. We identified our federal tax return and our Indiana state tax return as “major” tax jurisdictions. We believe that our income tax filing positions and deductions would be sustained on audit and do not anticipate any adjustments that will result in a material change to our consolidated financial position
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