Usibelli Coal Mine is a surface coal mining company near Healy in Interior Alaska. Emil Usibelli and a partner opened a surface mine east of Suntrana in 1943 under an Army mining license, and the present company was incorporated in the Territory of Alaska in 1948.[1]
| Founded | 1943 (incorporated 1948) |
|---|---|
| Location | East of Suntrana, near Healy |
| Record fiscal year | 1.72 million short tons (FY05) |
| Record calendar year | 2.2 million tons (2011) |
| Healy reserves (2009) | 700 million tons |
| Land holdings | Over 32,500 acres |
Origins
Emil Usibelli and partner T. E. Sandford opened a surface mine east of Suntrana in 1943, and the first customer was Ladd Army Air Field, now Fort Wainwright, under an Army supply contract. After Usibelli bought out his partner, the company was incorporated in 1948, and Usibelli Camp was built about 2.5 miles east of Suntrana in 1950. Usibelli owned the company until his death in a mining accident on March 27, 1964. The company page gives conflicting dates for the transition to his son Joe, 1964 in one entry and 1987 in another.[1]
Production and reserves
Record fiscal-year production was 1.72 million short tons in the year ending June 2005, and total 2011 production was an all-time high of 2.2 million tons. Reserves identified at the Healy mine in 2009 were 700 million tons, and the Wishbone Hill mine near Sutton, acquired in 1997, has about 14 million tons of surface-mineable reserves. Land holdings exceeded 32,500 acres after the 2000 Jumbo Dome lease added 12,400 acres.[1]
Customers and exports
Later customers included the City of Fairbanks Chena River Power Plant, Eielson Air Force Base, Clear Air Force Station, the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Golden Valley Electric Association Healy plant. From 1985 the Korea Electric Power Corporation bought coal under a 15-year contract shipped from Seward, and cumulative shipments to South Korea passed 5 million short tons in 1991. Exports through the Port of Seward exceeded 1 million metric tons in 2011, and the company made its first shipment to Japan in 2008. The workforce was 138 in 2011.[1]
FAQs
When did Usibelli begin mining? In 1943, near Suntrana.
Where does Usibelli export coal? Through Seward, including to South Korea.
What was its record production year? 2011, at 2.2 million tons.
Sources
Key facts
- Mining began 1943
- 2.2 million tons in 2011
Quick checkWhen was Usibelli incorporated?Show answer
1948
Sources
- Usibelli Coal Mine. Key Dates. 2026 (accessed 2026-11-14)
Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 14, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue