By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News

On Wednesday, Feb. 18, Wolverine Fuels announced that it had completed an asset purchase from Bronco Coal Resources. Following the purchase, Wolverine announced plans to reopen the Emery Valley Mine located south of Emery, Utah.

In a release from Wolverine Fuels, CEO Carson Pollastro expressed excitement about obtaining leases to the coal reserves and about continuing the legacy of coal mining in the area.

Operations at the Emery Valley Mine were halted in December 2025 following a mass layoff on Dec. 2. Management at Bronco Coal cited the inability to secure coal sales contracts, as well as competition from renewable energy and natural gas, as driving factors in the layoffs.

The mine will fall under the banner of Emery Valley Resources, LLC, a subsidiary of Wolverine. The company expects to employ approximately 200 people, a move which the company states,” will allow the mine to continue as a driver of the Emery County economy.”

At the managerial level, operations will be overseen by Mine Superintendent Pat Smuin, Production Manager Tony Welch and Production Coordinator Bret Tennant. 

The acquisition adds to the list of central Utah Mining operations run by Wolverine, which includes the Skyline, Sufco and Fossil Rock mines.

For more information on Wolverine Fuels and its operations, visit wolverinefuels.com.