Exhibit 99.1

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PRESS RELEASE
                                           CONTACT:
                                           CAROLYN A. FREDRICH
[ALLIANCE LOGO APPEARS HERE]               Director - Investor Relations
                                           Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.
                                           1717 South Boulder Avenue, Suite 600
                                           Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119
                                           (918) 295-7642

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P.
Announces Increased Production in Central Appalachia and WARN Notice
For Illinois Basin Operation

TULSA, Oklahoma, April 3, 2003 - - Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (Nasdaq:
ARLP), announced today plans to add a fourth continuous mining unit at the
Partnership's MC Mining, LLC complex located near Pikeville, Kentucky, following
completion of a new mine shaft, which is scheduled to come on line in the third
quarter of 2003. The Partnership also announced today that its Hopkins County
Coal, LLC subsidiary gave notice, in accordance with the Worker Adjustment and
Retraining Notification Act of 1988, of an impending reduction-in-force
scheduled for June 2, 2003, impacting approximately 120 employees at its two
operating surface mines, preparation plant, and related operations located near
Madisonville, Kentucky.

"Coal demand has strengthened recently in Central Appalachia with a firming of,
and increases in, coal pricing levels," said Joseph W. Craft III, the
Partnership's President and Chief Executive Officer. "As a result, we have
secured enough new commitments to encourage us to increase production in order
to meet the demands of the Central Appalachia marketplace." Mr. Craft added,
"Although our sales for the first quarter of 2003 have been strong, we have not
been able to secure any meaningful new commitments for the balance of the year
for our operations in the Illinois Basin. Unfortunately, without new sales
commitments for this region, we will have to reduce production."

Hopkins County Coal's two surface mines produced 1.6 million tons of coal in
2002. In the event these two surface mines are idled on June 2, 2003, the
Partnership's 2003 anticipated production will be reduced by approximately
800,000 tons for the year.

Looking ahead, Mr. Craft stated, "In late January, we reported commitments
in-hand for approximately 84% of the 19.6 million tons of coal sales targeted
for 2003 at that time. With the new commitments obtained during the first
quarter of 2003, we now have commitments in-hand for shipments of approximately
17.7 million tons during 2003. As a result of today's announcements, the
Partnership's coal sales target for 2003 has been adjusted to a range of 19.1 to
19.9 million tons."

The Partnership confirms its previously announced earnings guidance. (See ARLP
Press Release, dated January 28, 2003).


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The statements and projections used throughout this release are based on current
expectations. These statements and projections are forward-looking, and actual
results may differ materially. These projections do not include the potential
impact of any mergers, acquisitions or other business combinations that may
occur after the date of this release. At the end of this release, we have
included more information regarding business risks that could affect our
results.

Alliance Resource Partners is the nation's only publicly traded master limited
partnership involved in the production and marketing of coal. Alliance Resource
Partners currently operates eight mining complexes in Illinois, Indiana,
Kentucky and Maryland.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HISTORICAL MATTERS, ANY
MATTERS DISCUSSED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT
INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER
MATERIALLY FROM PROJECTED RESULTS. THESE RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND CONTINGENCIES
INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING: COMPETITION IN COAL MARKETS AND
OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THE COMPETITION; FLUCTUATION IN COAL PRICES, WHICH
COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR OPERATING RESULTS AND CASH FLOWS; DEREGULATION OF THE
ELECTRIC UTILITY INDUSTRY AND/OR THE EFFECTS OF ANY ADVERSE CHANGES IN THE
DOMESTIC COAL INDUSTRY, ELECTRIC UTILITY INDUSTRY, OR GENERAL ECONOMIC
CONDITIONS; DEPENDENCE ON SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMER CONTRACTS, INCLUDING RENEWING
CUSTOMER CONTRACTS UPON EXPIRATION; CUSTOMER CANCELLATIONS OF, OR BREACHES TO,
EXISTING CONTRACTS; CUSTOMER DELAYS OR DEFAULTS IN MAKING PAYMENTS; FLUCTUATIONS
IN COAL DEMAND, PRICE AND AVAILABILITY DUE TO LABOR AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND
DISRUPTIONS, EQUIPMENT AVAILABILITY, GOVERNMENTAL REGULATIONS AND OTHER FACTORS;
OUR PRODUCTIVITY LEVELS AND MARGINS THAT WE EARN ON OUR COAL SALES; ANY
UNANTICIPATED INCREASES IN LABOR COSTS, ADVERSE CHANGES IN WORK RULES, OR
UNEXPECTED CASH PAYMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH POST-MINE RECLAMATION AND WORKERS'
COMPENSATION CLAIMS; GREATER THAN EXPECTED ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS, COSTS AND
LIABILITIES; A VARIETY OF OPERATIONAL, GEOLOGIC, PERMITTING, LABOR AND
WEATHER-RELATED FACTORS; RISKS OF MAJOR MINE-RELATED ACCIDENTS OR INTERRUPTIONS;
RESULTS OF LITIGATION; DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING OUR SURETY BONDS FOR MINE
RECLAMATION AS WELL AS WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND BLACK LUNG BENEFITS; DIFFICULTY
OBTAINING COMMERCIAL PROPERTY INSURANCE; AND RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR 15.48%
PARTICIPATION (EXCLUDING ANY APPLICABLE DEDUCTIBLE) IN THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
PROGRAM.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THESE AND OTHER FACTORS CAN BE FOUND IN THE
PARTNERSHIP'S PUBLIC PERIODIC FILINGS WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION ("SEC"), INCLUDING THE PARTNERSHIP'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR
THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 FILED ON MARCH 18, 2003 WITH THE SEC. EXCEPT AS
REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS, THE PARTNERSHIP DOES NOT INTEND TO
UPDATE ITS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.


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