NTEC History

The story of America’s largest Native American-owned coal producer.

Navajo Mine Begins Operations

Navajo Mine begins large-scale mining operations in 1963 by its original operator, Utah International in areas south of Fruitland, New Mexico on the Navajo Nation. Over the years, it has become one of the largest surface mining operations in the United States. The Navajo Mine is the sole supplier of coal to the adjacent Four Corners Power Plant (FCPP).  The electricity generated from the Navajo Mine coal plays a significant role in meeting the energy needs of the rapidly growing Southwest.

General Electric Acquisition
General Electric Acquisition

Navajo Mine operator Utah International was acquired by General Electric.

BHP Acquisition
BHP Acquisition

Navajo Mine is acquired by BHP.

BHP & Billiton Merger
BHP & Billiton Merger

BHP and Billiton merge, the mine is then owned by BHP Billiton.

Navajo Mine New Buyer Search

BHP Billiton and the owners of the FCPP are unable to reach agreement on the renewal of the coal supply agreement.  BHP Billiton decides to divest its interest in the Navajo Mine and begins to search for a suitable buyer.

Navajo Nation Energy Policy
Navajo Nation Energy Policy

The Navajo Nation conducts an extensive survey and tribal member comment exercise that results in the issuance of the Navajo Nation’s 2013 Energy Policy.  The Navajo Nation re-affirms its inherent sovereign rights to develop its natural resources to promote the economic development of the Nation.

NTEC Creation
NTEC Creation

The Navajo Nation creates NTEC under Navajo law as an autonomous commercial entity to “promote the development of the Navajo Nation’s resources and new sources of energy, power, transmission and attendant resources to develop the economic, financial, social and cultural well-being of the Navajo People and the Navajo Nation.” NTEC is formed as an LLC with the Navajo Nation as its sole shareholder. 

NTEC Acquisition

On December 30, 2013, NTEC purchases the Navajo Mine Coal Company LLC.

Lease Extension
Lease Extension

Department of Interior and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement issue a record of decision approving a 25-year site lease extension for Navajo Mine and Four Corners Power Plant.

New Mine Operator
New Mine Operator

NTEC names North American Coal Corp. as the new Navajo Mine operator.  North American Coal forms Bisti Fuels LLC to operate Navajo Mine.  Bisti assumes operational control of the mine on January 1, 2016.

First Reclamation Award
First Reclamation Award

NTEC receives the Western Regional Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Reclamation award from the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.

Four Corners Settlement

NTEC settles contractual dispute with Four Corners Power Plant owners. NTEC received $55 million in the settlement. NTEC used the settlement to pay off the term loan that was used to buy out BHP Billiton’s original loan to purchase Navajo Mine. 

Ownership of Four Corners
Ownership of Four Corners

NTEC finalized the acquisition of seven-percent ownership of Four Corners Power Plant, a 1,550 MW power plant. This makes NTEC the only tribal company in the United States to have partial ownership of a coal-fired power plant.

Shareholder Distribution
Shareholder Distribution

NTEC pays first dividend to its shareholder the Navajo Nation.

Free Coal Program Expansion
Free Coal Program Expansion

With the closure of NGS and Kayenta mine, NTEC massively expands its free coal distribution program to provide essential heating coal across the Navajo Nation and to the Hopi communities.

Rare Earth Investment

NTEC acquires interest in Texas Minerals Corp. to invest in rare earth minerals project near El Paso, Texas. Rare earth minerals are needed to build solar panels, wind turbines and for modern electronics.

New Mine Assets
New Mine Assets

In October 2019, NTEC acquired the assets of Cloud Peak Energy through a bankruptcy auction process.  These include three coal mines in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana (Antelope, Cordero Rojo, and Spring Creek). NTEC becomes the third-largest producer of coal in the United States.

Revenue Benefits to the Navajo Nation

Annual taxes and royalties paid by NTEC to the Navajo Nation from the operation of the Navajo Mine now exceed $40M and account for almost a third of Navajo Nations General Fund Revenue.

Additional Economic Benefits from the Navajo Mine

The Navajo Mine is spending approximately $4 million each year with qualified Navajo vendors and businesses.

News &

Press Releases

News

Navajo Transitional Energy Company Wins the 2024 OSMRE National Award for Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Reclamation

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) Recognizes NTEC with the United States’ Preeminent Award for Mine Reclamation at Navajo Mine Farmington, NM…
News

Navajo Transitional Energy Company Awarded $6.55 Million by the U.S. Department of Energy for Carbon Capture Study at Four Corners Power Plant

Farmington, NM – September 12, 2024 -- Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC) is proud to announce that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of…
News

BLM Approval Received – Drilling to Commence at Big Sandy

June 11, 2024 - HIGHLIGHTS • AZL has received approval from the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for the Permit of Exploration (POE) at…