CORRESP 1 filename1.htm

June 14, 2022

Via EDGAR

Securities and Exchange Commission

Division of Corporation Finance

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, D.C. 20549

Attn:

Karl Hiller

Branch Chief

 

Office of Energy & Transportation

 

 

Re:

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.

 

Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2021

 

Filed February 25, 2022

 

File No. 000-26823

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This letter sets forth the responses of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”) to the comments provided by the staff (the “Staff”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in its comment letter dated May 3, 2022 (the “Comment Letter”) with respect to the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 (the “Form 10-K”) filed by the Partnership on February 25, 2022. We intend to file the modifications to the disclosures in the body of the Form 10-K as part of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and file revised technical report summaries as exhibits to our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. We are happy to discuss any concerns the Staff might have regarding that approach.

For your convenience, we have repeated each comment of the Staff exactly as given in the Comment Letter in bold and italics below and provided our response below each such comment.

Summary of Coal Mineral Resources and Reserves, page 58

1.

We note your disclosures on pages 58 and 59 of the coal price ranges utilized in preparing your resource and reserve estimates. Please modify these disclosures to specify the prices utilized for each coal basin or market region associated with the resource and reserve estimates. See Item 1303(b)(3) of Regulation S - K.

Response: We acknowledge the Staff’s comment and have modified our disclosure below to specify the prices utilized for each coal basin or market region associated with our resource estimates, which we will also include in future filings:

At December 31, 2021, we had approximately 1.165 billion tons of coal mineral resources.  Tonnages are reported on a clean recoverable basis with pricing based on available third-party forecasts and historical pricing adjusted for quality at the end of 2021 in a range from $36.27 to $51.26 per short ton in the Illinois Basin and from $42.68 to $66.27 per short ton in the Appalachian Basin, which are the prices used by RESPEC to estimate the amount of coal mineral resources.  All resources are classified as underground mineable in the exploration stage.

Further please see our modified disclosure below to specify the prices utilized for each coal basin or market region associated with our reserve estimates, which we will also include in future filings:

On December 31, 2021, we had approximately 547.1 million tons of coal mineral reserves.  Tonnages are reported on a clean recoverable basis with pricing based on available third-party forecasts and historical pricing adjusted for quality at the end of 2021 in a range from $36.08 to $44.01 per short ton in the Illinois Basin and from $42.68 to $66.27 per short ton in the Appalachian

1


Basin, which are the prices used by RESPEC to estimate the amount of coal mineral reserves.  All reserves are classified as underground mineable in the production stage.

2.

Please expand your summary disclosures to include the resource and reserve estimates associated with your interests in Mid-America Carbonates

Response: We acknowledge the Staff’s comment and in response, note that our subsidiary Mid-America Carbonates, LLC (“MAC”) does not own, lease or control any limestone resources or reserves or other mineral resources or reserves.  MAC is a subsidiary that provides rock dust to our Illinois Basin mining complexes that it manufactures from limestone acquired from nearby third-party mining operations.  Because MAC has no mineral resources and reserves, we are unable to expand our summary resource and reserve estimates to include MAC.

Henderson/Union Property, page 60

3.

We note that the Henderson-Union and River View properties overlap though we expect that different coal seams are associated with your estimates of resources and reserves. If this is correct, please include a statement along with these disclosures to clarify that the estimates of resources and reserves are distinct and separate, without any overlap in estimation, even though the mineral and property rights may overlap or have a common surface expression. See Item 1304(f)(2) of Regulation S-K.

Response: We acknowledge the Staff’s comment and will include the following information in our future filings:  

Though there is geographic overlap between the Henderson-Union and River View properties, the resources and reserves of each are associated with different coal seams or, if in the same seam, are separated by existing mine works or geologic features into distinct areas.  There is no overlap in the resource / reserve estimation.

Geology and Reserves, page 64

4.

We note that you do not include estimates of mineral resources with all of your estimates of mineral reserves. Please disclose the circumstances underlying the absence of resources in each instance. For example, clarify whether measured and indicated resources associated with the properties were all converted to reserves and if inferred resources were not determined explain the reasons. See Item 1304(f)(2) of Regulation S-K.

Response: We acknowledge the Staff’s comment and will include the following clarifications following the reserve table in the respective Geology and Reserves sections for each of the individual property disclosures in future filings:

River View, page 64

Due to the level of geologic certainty, all resources were classified as either measured or indicated and were converted to reserves. There were no inferred resources associated with the property.

Hamilton, page 66

Resources associated with Hamilton County are provided in our Coal Mineral Resources table above.

Gibson South, page 68

Due to the level of geologic certainty, all resources were classified as either measured or indicated and were converted to reserves. There were no inferred resources associated with the property.

2


Tunnel Ridge, page 70

Due to the level of geological certainty, all resources were classified as either measured or indicated and were converted to reserves. There are no inferred resources associated with the property.

Exhibits 96.1, 96.2, 96.3, 96.4 and 96.5

Section 1 – Executive Summary, page ES-1

5.

We have identified various incremental requirements that pertain to the technical summary reports in the remaining comments of this letter. Please discuss these observations with the qualified persons. We expect that you will need to obtain and file revised reports from the engineering firm to address these concerns.

Response: We acknowledge the Staff’s comment, and we will file revised technical report summaries incorporating the responses to the remaining comments of this letter as exhibits to our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2022.

6.

We note that quantities corresponding to your disclosures of resources on page 62 of the filing have been labeled as proven and probable in the report tabulation on page 1 of Exhibit 96.1, thereby indicating these are reserves rather than resources. This section of the report should be corrected to utilize the applicable terminology.

Response:  We acknowledge the Staff’s comment and have discussed it with RESPEC, our qualified engineering firm.  RESPEC will modify their technical report summaries to remove the label of “Total Proven and Probable” in Table 1-1 of Exhibit 96.1 to instead read “Total Measured, Indicated, & Inferred”.

7.

We note that mineral resource estimates are not provided with all of the mineral reserve estimates in the reports at Exhibits 96.1, 96.2, 96.3, 96.4 and 96.5. The language in Sections 11 and 12 should clarify, where applicable, the circumstances underlying the absence or limited quantification of resource estimates.

For example, incremental details should clarify whether the measured and indicated resources were quantified and then converted to reserves in preparing the reserve estimates and indicate the reasons inferred resources were not determined or reported. See Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(B)(11)(i) and (12)(i) of Regulation S-K.

Response: We acknowledge the Staff’s comment and respectively believe that Exhibits 96.1, 96.2, 96.3, 96.4 and 96.5 prepared by RESPEC, our qualified engineering firm, are generally responsive to Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(B)(11)(i) and (12)(i) of Regulation S-K as described below. We will also have RESEPC add language to certain technical report summaries to address why inferred resources are not determined or reported as discussed in our responses below:

Exhibit 96.1

The statement “None of the resources are converted to reserves” appears in Section 1.4 and the statement “No reserves are reported” appears in Section 12.  

Exhibit 96.2

Our River View mine has no resources associated with the reserves as any resources it may have had were converted to reserves. As a result, the statements “All resources were converted to reserves” and “There are no resources exclusive of reserves” appear in Section 1.4.

The statements “There are no resources exclusive of reserves” and “All resources were classified as either measured or indicated and were converted to reserves” appear in Section 11.4.

3


RESPEC will add the statement “Due to the level of geologic certainty, there were no inferred resources” before the statement “All resources were classified as either measured or indicated and were converted to reserves” identified above in Section 11.4.  

Exhibit 96.3

The statement “All resources converted to reserves are removed from the resource estimate” appears in Section 1.4 and the statement, “The tonnages are reported on a saleable basis and exclude resources that are converted to reserves” appears in Section 11.4.  

Exhibit 96.4

Our Gibson South mine has no resources associated with the reserves as any resources it may have had were converted to reserves. As a result, the statements “All resources were converted to reserves” and “There are no resources exclusive of reserves” appear in Section 1.4.

The statements “There are no resources exclusive of reserves” and “All resources were classified as either measured or indicated and were converted to reserves” appear in Section 11.4.

RESPEC will add the statement “Due to the level of geologic certainty, there were no inferred resources” before the statement “All resources were classified as either measured or indicated and were converted to reserves” identified above in Section 11.4.  

Exhibit 96.5

Our Tunnel Ridge mine has no resources associated with the reserves as any resources it may have had were converted to reserves. As a result, the statements “All resources were converted to reserves” and “There are no resources exclusive of reserves” appear in Section 1.4.

The statements “There are no resources exclusive of reserves” and “All resources were classified as either measured or indicated and were converted to reserves” appear in Section 11.4.

RESPEC will add the statement “Due to the level of geologic certainty, there were no inferred resources” before the statement “All resources were classified as either measured or indicated and were converted to reserves” identified above in Section 11.4.  

Section 3 – Property Description, page ES-3

 

8.

As the Henderson-Union and River View properties are shown to overlap geographically, Section 3.1 of Exhibits 96.1 and 96.2 should be expanded to clarify if the estimates of resources and reserves correspond to distinct and separate coal seams, without any overlap in estimation. See Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(B)(3)(i) and (vi) of Regulation S-K.

Response:  We acknowledge the Staff’s comment and have discussed it with RESPEC, our qualified engineering firm.  RESPEC will modify their technical report summaries to include the following clarifying statements in section 3.1 of each exhibit:

Exhibit 96.1:

Though there is a geographic overlap with the existing River View operation, the resources of each are associated with different coal seams (WKY7 and WKY6) or, if in the same seam (which occurs in the WKY11 and WKY9), are separated by old works and geologic features into distinct areas. There is no overlap in the resource / reserve estimation.

4


Exhibit 96.2:

Though there is geographic overlap with the Henderson Union resource area, the resources are associated with different seams (West Kentucky No.7 and West Kentucky No. 6) or, if in the same seam (which occurs in the WKY11 and WKY9), are separated by old works and geologic features into distinct areas. There is no overlap in the resource / reserve estimation.

Section 11 – Mineral Resource Estimates, page ES-11

9.

We note that estimates of resources are presented in Section 11.4 of Exhibits 96.1 and 96.3 without describing the economic basis. This section should include the assumptions utilized by the qualified person in forming a view on economic viability, including the prices at which product is expected to be sold, and the mining, processing, and general and administrative costs that are expected to be incurred, which collectively establish an economic basis for the estimates. See Item 1302(d) of Regulation S-K.

Response: We acknowledge the Staff’s comment and have discussed it with RESPEC, our qualified engineering firm.  RESPEC will modify their technical report summaries to include the following modified disclosures and modified tables in Sections 11.4 of each of the following exhibits:

Exhibit 96.1

The EIA reported the average weekly coal commodity spot price for Illinois Basin coal (the EIA price) on February 4, 2022, to be $75.50/ton (11,800 Btu, 5.0 lbs. SO2 basis). The reference price used in the economic analysis is $39.10 which is based on the QP’s review of historical pricing realized by the adjacent River View operation and proprietary third-party coal price forecasts provided by ARP. Mining and processing costs along with general and administrative costs were estimated.  Table 11-4 shows the economic basis for the estimate of each seam in real 2021 U.S. dollars.

Table 11-4. Henderson Union Resources

Economic Basis for Estimates (US$/ton)

Seam

No.11

No.9

No.7

No.6

Revenues

$ 39.10

$ 39.10

$ 39.10

$ 39.10

Mining and Processing Costs

$ 31.93

$ 29.82

$ 30.58

$ 31.49

General & Administrative Costs

$ 0.60

$ 0.52

$ 0.49

$ 0.59

Exhibit 96.3

The EIA reported the average weekly coal commodity spot price for Illinois Basin coal (the EIA price) on February 4, 2022, to be $75.50/ton (11,800 Btu, 5.0 lbs. SO2 basis). The reference price used in the economic analysis is $36.27 which is based on the QP’s review of historical pricing realized by the Hamilton operation, proprietary third-party pricing forecasts, and the simple average of the EIA price as reported the first Friday of each month for the calendar years 2020 and 2021 (the 2-year average). Mining and processing costs along with general and administrative costs were estimated. Table 11-4 shows the economic basis for the estimate of each seam in real 2021 U.S. dollars.

Table 11-4. Hamilton Mine Resources

Economic Basis for Estimates (US$/ton)

Seam

Herrin

Springfield

Revenues

$ 36.27

$ 36.27

Mining and Processing Costs

$ 25.46

$ 30.07

General & Administrative Costs

$ 0.52

$ 0.59

5


Section 13 – Mining Methods, page ES-13

10.

We note that quantities identified as raw tons are reported in Section 13.2 of Exhibits 96.2, 96.3, 96.4 and 96.5. This section should clarify whether the raw tons reported in the tabulations represent mined coal tonnage prior to cleaning at the preparation plants; and include the historical mined tonnage/preparation plant production, and estimated metallurgical or preparation plant recovery factors used to determine your resources/reserves. See Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(B)(11)(ii) of Regulation S-K.

Response: We acknowledge the Staff’s comment and have discussed it with RESPEC, our qualified engineering firm.  RESPEC will modify their technical report summaries to include the following modified disclosures and modified tables in Sections 13.2 of each of the following exhibits:

Exhibit 96.2

Planned production varies according to contracted sales volume and expectations of market conditions. Table 13-1 provides historic raw tons mined before processing, preparation plant recovery, and clean recoverable tons. The forecasted raw tons mined before processing, preparation plant recovery, and clean recoverable tons contained in the economic analysis are shown in Table 13-2.

Table 13-1. Historic Production and Recovery

(tons 000's)

Category

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Raw Tons

13,872

15,701

19,052

15,106

15,964

Clean Recoverable Tons

8,962

9,753

11,342

9,412

9,848

Recovery

64.6%

62.1%

59.5%

62.3%

61.7%

Table 13-2. Life of Reserve Tons

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2044 (tons 000's)

Category

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031

2032

2033

Raw Tons

17,522

17,579

17,632

17,596

17,770

17,451

17,759

18,149

19,179

19,395

19,251

18,866

Clean Recoverable Tons

11,029

10,941

10,626

10,317

9,479

9,556

9,831

9,981

10,331

10,214

9,986

9,749

Recovery

62.9%

62.2%

60.3%

58.6%

53.3%

54.8%

55.4%

55.0%

53.9%

52.7%

51.9%

51.7%

Table 13-2. Life of Reserve Tons

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2044 (tons 000's)

Category

2034

2035

2036

2037

2038

2039

2040

2041

2042

2043

2044

Raw Tons

18,489

18,119

17,757

17,401

17,053

16,712

16,378

16,050

15,729

15,415

9,372

Clean Recoverable Tons

9,541

9,427

9,383

9,168

9,010

8,856

8,654

8,481

8,311

8,145

3,615

Recovery

51.6%

52.0%

52.8%

52.7%

52.8%

53.0%

52.8%

52.8%

52.8%

52.8%

38.6%

Exhibit 96.3

Planned production varies according to contracted sales volume and expectations of market conditions. Table 13-1 provides historic raw tons mined before processing, preparation plant recovery, and clean recoverable tons. The forecasted raw tons mined before processing, preparation plant recovery, and clean recoverable tons contained in the economic analysis are shown in Table 13-2.

Table 13-1. Historic Production and Recovery

(tons 000's)

Year

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Raw Tons

12,132

12,852

12,383

5,937

10,352

Clean Recoverable Tons

6,129

6,299

5,889

2,623

4,939

Recovery

50.5%

49.0%

47.6%

44.2%

47.7%

6


Table 13-2. Life of Reserve Tons

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2042 (tons 000's)

Year

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031

2032

Raw Tons

11,748

10,582

11,468

11,075

10,910

10,992

11,356

11,224

10,728

11,056

12,074

Clean Recoverable Tons

5,632

5,544

6,289

6,270

6,224

6,252

6,322

6,709

6,445

6,186

6,511

Recovery

47.9%

52.4%

54.8%

56.6%

57.0%

56.9%

55.7%

59.8%

60.1%

55.9%

53.9%

Table 13-2. Life of Reserve Tons

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2042 (tons 000's)

Year

2033

2034

2035

2036

2037

2038

2039

2040

2041

2042

Raw Tons

11,178

9,461

9,012

10,086

9,492

9,656

10,119

10,871

10,687

2,428

Clean Recoverable Tons

6,119

6,358

6,428

6,957

6,850

6,335

6,484

6,836

6,258

1,529

Recovery

54.7%

67.2%

71.3%

69.0%

72.2%

65.6%

64.1%

62.9%

58.6%

63.0%

Exhibit 96.4

Planned production varies according to contracted sales volume and expectations of market conditions. Table 13-1 provides historic raw tons mined before processing, preparation plant recovery, and clean recoverable tons. The forecasted raw tons mined before processing, preparation plant recovery, and clean recoverable tons contained in the economic analysis are shown in Table 13-2.

Table 13-1. Historic Production and Recovery

(tons 000's)

Category

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Raw Tons

8,180

9,518

7,552

2,984

4,340

Clean Recoverable Tons

5,956

6,938

5,490

2,289

3,290

Recovery

72.8%

72.9%

72.7%

76.7%

75.8%

Table 13-2. Life of Reserve Tons

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2031 (tons 000's)

Category

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031

Raw Tons

6,966

7,522

7,430

7,392

7,326

7,541

7,345

7,217

7,288

7,494

Clean Recoverable Tons

5,240

5,453

5,381

5,434

5,215

5,459

5,148

5,221

5,023

4,900

Recovery

75.2%

72.5%

72.4%

73.5%

71.2%

72.4%

70.1%

72.3%

68.9%

65.4%

Exhibit 96.5

Planned production varies according to contracted sales volume and expectations of market conditions. Table 13-1 provides historic raw tons mined before processing, preparation plant recovery, and clean recoverable tons. The forecasted raw tons mined before processing, preparation plant recovery, and clean recoverable tons contained in the economic analysis are shown in Table 13-2.

Table 13-1. Historic Production and Recovery

(tons 000's)

Year

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Raw Tons

14,155

13,358

14,353

13,059

13,633

Clean Recoverable Tons

6,804

6,754

7,396

6,757

7,213

Recovery

48.1%

50.6%

51.5%

51.7%

52.9%

Table 13-2. Life of Reserve Tons

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2042 (tons 000's)

Year

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

Raw Tons

14,715

13,811

13,495

13,060

12,163

12,276

12,432

12,726

Clean Recoverable Tons

7,533

6,891

6,666

6,567

6,335

6,393

6,639

6,675

Recovery

51.2%

49.9%

49.4%

50.3%

52.1%

52.1%

53.4%

52.5%

7


Section 19 – Economic Analysis, page ES-19

11.

We note that Federal and State income taxes have been excluded by the qualified person in determining the economic cash flows associated with the coal deposits. Therefore, it appears that the assessments of economic viability and the resulting estimates of reserves would need to be revised to reflect expectations regarding the applicable Federal and State income taxes in order to yield estimates that are consistent with our reserve definitions. See Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(B)(19)(i) of Regulation S-K.

Response: We acknowledge the Staff’s comment and in response, we believe RESPEC, our qualified engineering firm, was responsive to Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(B)(19)(i) of Regulation S-K, that the assumptions used in the economic analysis to be described are those “applicable to the mineral project.”  Because our coal operations are held in partnerships, the mineral projects are not subject to federal and state income taxes at the entity level, therefore we believe it is appropriate that the economic cash flows associated with the coal deposits exclude federal and state income taxes.

12.

We note that a cash flow summary is provided for your various mining projects in Section 19.1 of Exhibits 96.2, 96.3, 96.4 and 96.5. This section should also include annual cash flow forecasts that are based on your annual production schedule for the life of the projects, including line items such as revenues, operating costs, capital expenditures, royalties, taxes, and any other items that must be considered in projecting after tax cash flows. See Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(B)(19)(ii) of Regulation S-K.

Response: We acknowledge the Staff’s comment and have discussed it with RESPEC, our qualified engineering firm RESPEC will modify their technical report summaries to include the following new table 18-2 and modified tables 18-1 and 19-1 in Sections 18 and 19 of each of the following exhibits:

Exhibit 96.2

Table 18-1. Capital Cost Estimate

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2044 (US$ 000's)

Category

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031

2032

2033

Routine Operating Necessity

42,029

56,903

66,523

49,050

40,130

34,884

40,941

60,185

29,293

26,020

34,613

42,708

Major Infrastructure Investment

3,803

-

-

575

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Table 18-1. Capital Cost Estimate

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2044 (US$ 000's)

Category

2034

2035

2036

2037

2038

2039

2040

2041

2042

2043

2044

Routine Operating Necessity

51,656

28,647

26,260

31,210

41,655

56,559

25,256

26,573

31,012

5,068

203

Major Infrastructure Investment

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Table 18-2. Operating Cost Estimate

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2044 (US$ 000's)

Category

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031

2032

2033

Cash Operating Costs

293,953

293,331

293,367

289,435

288,287

286,778

289,954

292,643

299,436

297,190

292,861

290,823

Royalties

23,363

22,142

22,316

22,357

17,840

16,393

17,122

19,966

22,467

22,737

22,229

21,702

Depreciation

50,157

47,916

53,334

52,850

54,362

49,871

51,791

50,912

49,375

47,296

45,647

44,702

Mining and Processing Costs

367,473

363,388

369,018

364,641

360,490

353,042

358,867

363,521

371,278

367,223

360,737

357,226

Table 18-2. Operating Cost Estimate

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2044 (US$ 000's)

Category

2034

2035

2036

2037

2038

2039

2040

2041

2042

2043

2044

Cash Operating Costs

287,870

285,347

283,171

280,343

277,812

275,331

272,696

270,235

267,863

265,505

119,292

Royalties

21,238

20,984

20,886

20,406

20,055

19,712

19,262

18,877

18,499

18,129

8,046

Depreciation

43,116

42,689

42,084

42,554

42,301

42,170

41,721

41,746

36,952

24,736

7,599

Mining and Processing Costs

352,224

349,021

346,141

343,303

340,168

337,213

333,679

330,858

323,314

308,371

134,937

Table 19-1. Cash Flow Summary

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2044 (US$ 000's)

Category

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031

2032

2033

Revenues

429,196

427,755

415,475

403,409

370,610

373,659

384,402

390,276

403,932

399,361

390,450

381,188

Cash Operating Costs

(293,953)

(293,331)

(293,367)

(289,435)

(288,287)

(286,778)

(289,954)

(292,643)

(299,436)

(297,190)

(292,861)

(290,823)

Royalties

(23,363)

(22,142)

(22,316)

(22,357)

(17,840)

(16,393)

(17,122)

(19,966)

(22,467)

(22,737)

(22,229)

(21,702)

Capital Expenditures

(45,832)

(56,903)

(66,523)

(49,625)

(40,130)

(34,884)

(40,941)

(60,185)

(29,293)

(26,020)

(34,613)

(42,708)

Working Capital Changes

(4,745)

3,487

5,331

1,342

1,571

(936)

756

2,304

(1,095)

1,360

2,322

815

Cash Flow

61,301

58,867

38,601

43,334

25,923

34,669

37,142

19,786

51,641

54,774

43,069

26,770

8


Table 19-1. Cash Flow Summary

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2044 (US$ 000's)

Category

2034

2035

2036

2037

2038

2039

2040

2041

2042

2043

2044

Revenues

373,050

368,601

366,867

358,454

352,282

346,274

338,378

331,610

324,978

318,478

143,388

Cash Operating Costs

(287,870)

(285,347)

(283,171)

(280,343)

(277,812)

(275,331)

(272,696)

(270,235)

(267,863)

(265,505)

(119,292)

Royalties

(21,238)

(20,984)

(20,886)

(20,406)

(20,055)

(19,712)

(19,262)

(18,877)

(18,499)

(18,129)

(8,046)

Capital Expenditures

(51,656)

(28,647)

(26,260)

(31,210)

(41,655)

(56,559)

(25,256)

(26,573)

(31,012)

(5,068)

(203)

Working Capital Changes

881

(104)

880

1,746

1,916

2,351

(170)

1,638

1,817

58

4,524

Cash Flow

13,167

33,519

37,430

28,241

14,676

(2,977)

20,993

17,563

9,421

29,835

20,371

Exhibit 96.3

Table 18-1. Capital Cost Estimate

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2042 (US$ 000's)

Category

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031

2032

Routine Operating Necessity

41,789

30,658

21,819

23,467

47,393

30,239

32,383

20,164

33,680

36,255

21,922

Major Infrastructure Investment

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Table 18-1. Capital Cost Estimate

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2042 (US$ 000's)

Category

2033

2034

2035

2036

2037

2038

2039

2040

2041

2042

Routine Operating Necessity

26,657

27,643

32,251

34,127

18,417

21,022

20,765

33,303

33,985

6,404

Major Infrastructure Investment

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Table 18-2. Operating Cost Estimate

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2042 (US$ 000's)

Category

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031

2032

Cash Operating Costs

122,877

120,736

117,888

116,663

115,045

102,862

102,674

116,603

102,086

102,145

119,034

Royalties

29,385

29,819

33,804

33,688

33,440

33,595

33,969

36,050

34,633

33,238

34,982

Depreciation

44,600

42,674

40,283

28,451

32,390

33,007

35,881

30,895

29,288

26,993

28,084

Mining and Processing Costs

196,862

193,230

191,976

178,802

180,875

169,464

172,524

183,549

166,006

162,375

182,100

Table 18-2. Operating Cost Estimate

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2042 (US$ 000's)

Category

2033

2034

2035

2036

2037

2038

2039

2040

2041

2042

Cash Operating Costs

112,781

98,103

96,324

112,598

108,633

99,692

110,560

116,203

114,055

28,719

Royalties

32,876

34,160

34,539

37,380

36,804

34,037

34,840

36,730

33,624

8,214

Depreciation

29,105

31,084

35,247

34,959

29,237

25,599

25,461

26,559

29,564

26,085

Mining and Processing Costs

174,762

163,347

166,110

184,937

174,674

159,329

170,862

179,492

177,243

63,018

Table 19-1. Cash Flow Summary

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2042 (US$ 000's)

Category

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031

2032

Revenues

204,287

201,288

228,188

227,401

225,731

226,773

229,301

243,349

233,778

224,365

236,139

Cash Operating Costs

(122,877)

(120,736)

(117,888)

(116,663)

(115,045)

(102,862)

(102,674)

(116,603)

(102,086)

(102,145)

(119,034)

Royalties

(29,385)

(29,819)

(33,804)

(33,688)

(33,440)

(33,595)

(33,969)

(36,050)

(34,633)

(33,238)

(34,982)

Capital Expenditures

(41,789)

(30,658)

(21,819)

(23,467)

(47,393)

(30,239)

(32,383)

(20,164)

(33,680)

(36,255)

(21,922)

Working Capital Changes

13,282

3,165

(6,245)

570

3,000

(2,074)

(168)

(773)

1,626

1,504

212

Cash Flow

23,518

23,239

48,432

54,153

32,853

58,003

60,107

69,759

65,006

54,232

60,413

Table 19-1. Cash Flow Summary

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2042 (US$ 000's)

Category

2033

2034

2035

2036

2037

2038

2039

2040

2041

2042

Revenues

221,921

230,589

233,144

252,323

248,434

229,759

235,182

247,940

226,968

57,340

Cash Operating Costs

(112,781)

(98,103)

(96,324)

(112,598)

(108,633)

(99,692)

(110,560)

(116,203)

(114,055)

(28,719)

Royalties

(32,876)

(34,160)

(34,539)

(37,380)

(36,804)

(34,037)

(34,840)

(36,730)

(33,624)

(8,214)

Capital Expenditures

(26,657)

(27,643)

(32,251)

(34,127)

(18,417)

(21,022)

(20,765)

(33,303)

(33,985)

(6,404)

Working Capital Changes

1,802

(218)

985

1,159

(193)

1,832

1,316

2,085

2,301

(8,628)

Cash Flow

51,409

70,465

71,015

69,378

84,387

76,840

70,332

63,788

47,605

5,375

Exhibit 96.4

Table 18-1. Capital Cost Estimate

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2031 (US$ 000's)

Category

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031

Routine Operating Necessity

22,551

15,675

27,417

15,689

18,027

16,934

18,840

19,167

18,972

16,461

Major Infrastructure Investment

-

-

-

1,500

-

15,561

16,760

-

-

-

9


Table 18-2. Operating Cost Estimate

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2031 (US$ 000's)

Category

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031

Cash Operating Costs

105,827

113,280

111,312

110,220

110,842

112,881

111,148

110,888

110,655

112,355

Royalties

7,520

7,795

5,458

6,625

6,410

7,211

6,117

6,996

5,499

6,141

Depreciation

23,147

25,923

27,714

27,340

26,332

28,537

28,789

28,748

28,852

29,313

Mining and Processing Costs

136,494

146,999

144,484

144,186

143,584

148,629

146,054

146,632

145,006

147,809

Table 19-1. Cash Flow Summary

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2031 (US$ 000's)

Category

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031

Revenues

190,347

196,978

194,398

196,295

188,393

197,203

186,008

188,622

181,476

178,175

Cash Operating Costs

(105,827)

(113,280)

(111,312)

(110,220)

(110,842)

(112,881)

(111,148)

(110,888)

(110,655)

(112,355)

Royalties

(7,520)

(7,795)

(5,458)

(6,625)

(6,410)

(7,211)

(6,117)

(6,996)

(5,499)

(6,141)

Capital Expenditures

(22,551)

(15,675)

(27,417)

(17,189)

(18,027)

(32,494)

(35,600)

(19,167)

(18,972)

(16,461)

Working Capital Changes

11,271

3,520

(2,250)

2,594

2,187

2,841

1,241

1,716

64

2,291

Cash Flow

65,720

63,748

47,961

64,854

55,301

47,457

34,384

53,288

46,413

45,509

Exhibit 96.5

Table 18-1. Capital Cost Estimate

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2029 (US$ 000's)

Category

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

Routine Operating Necessity

55,725

44,146

43,776

45,704

37,640

69,350

38,143

30,518

Major Infrastructure Investment

549

6,200

10,000

6,700

6,859

-

9,400

6,859

Table 18-2. Operating Cost Estimate

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2029 (US$ 000's)

Category

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

Cash Operating Costs

202,396

196,408

189,771

179,094

165,892

161,118

161,032

160,767

Royalties

9,679

8,823

8,565

8,408

8,235

13,579

17,602

16,771

Depreciation

53,843

44,154

47,601

49,272

49,571

51,810

52,296

51,477

Mining and Processing Costs

265,917

249,385

245,937

236,774

223,698

226,508

230,930

229,015

Table 19-1. Cash Flow Summary

Life of Reserve Estimate 2022-2029 (US$ 000's)

Category

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

Revenues

322,630

294,111

285,499

280,276

270,365

272,844

283,360

286,466

Cash Operating Costs

(202,396)

(196,408)

(189,771)

(179,094)

(165,892)

(161,118)

(161,032)

(160,767)

Royalties

(9,679)

(8,823)

(8,565)

(8,408)

(8,235)

(13,579)

(17,602)

(16,771)

Capital Expenditures

(56,274)

(50,346)

(53,776)

(52,404)

(44,499)

(69,350)

(47,543)

(37,377)

Working Capital Changes

17,707

4,356

3,610

1,203

1,581

5,049

(54)

1,438

Cash Flow

71,989

42,889

36,997

41,573

53,321

33,845

57,129

72,989

We respectively request that the Staff accept our response.

Please direct any questions or comments regarding the foregoing to the undersigned or to our counsel at Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., David Oelman at (713) 758-3708 or doelman@velaw.com.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

By:  

/s/ Brian L. Cantrell                                                  

Brian L. Cantrell

 

Sr. Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Cc:

Eb Davis

 

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.

 

 

 

David P. Oelman

 

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

10