<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0508</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2024-02-23</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000788965</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HALLADOR ENERGY CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HNRG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001032385</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LUBAR DAVID J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>833 E. MICHIGAN STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MILWAUKEE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>53202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>0</aff10b5One>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2024-02-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>51168</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.254</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1204040</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Lubar Opportunities Fund I, LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2788685</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Lubar Equity Fund</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Convertible Note-common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.2540</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2022-08-18</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2024-08-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1279182</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1279182</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Lubar Opportunities Fund I, LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These securities are owned by Lubar Opportunities Fund I, LLC (&quot;LOFI&quot;). Lubar &amp; Co. is the sole manager of the fund. Mr. David Lubar, as CEO of Lubar &amp; Co., may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power as to the shares held by LOFI. Mr. David Lubar disclaims beneficial ownership in the shares owned by LOFI, except to the extent of his respective pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Per the terms of the Unsecured Convertible Notes, interest due may be paid in shares of the Issuer's common stock.  The share price was $6.254, based on the 30 day VWAP on 7/28/2022 when the Notes were issued.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These securities are owned by Lubar Equity Fund, LLC (&quot;LEF&quot;). Lubar &amp; Co., Incorporated is the sole manager of the fund. Mr. David Lubar, as a director and President of Lubar &amp; Co., may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power as to the shares held by LEF. Mr. David Lubar disclaims beneficial ownership in the shares owned by LEF, except to the extent of his respective pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David J. Lubar</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2024-02-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
