CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 38,678	$ 28,274
Trade receivables		122,875	184,187
Other receivables		696	1,025
Due from affiliates		38	7,107
Inventories, net		121,081	83,155
Advance royalties, net		6,820	9,416
Prepaid expenses and other assets		29,890	31,362
Total current assets		320,078	344,526
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
Property, plant and equipment, at cost		3,044,260	2,815,620
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization		(1,243,985)	(1,150,414)
Total property, plant and equipment, net		1,800,275	1,665,206
OTHER ASSETS:
Advance royalties, net		21,295	15,895
Due from affiliate			11,047
Equity investments in affiliates		64,509	224,611
Goodwill - (Note 3)		136,399
Other long-term assets		25,804	27,470
Total other assets		248,007	279,023
TOTAL ASSETS	[1]	2,368,360	2,288,755
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable		84,058	86,277
Due to affiliates		129	370
Accrued taxes other than income taxes		15,621	19,461
Accrued payroll and related expenses		37,031	57,656
Accrued interest		306	318
Workers' compensation and pneumoconiosis benefits		8,688	8,868
Current capital lease obligations		19,764	1,305
Other current liabilities		18,929	17,109
Current maturities, long-term debt		239,350	230,000
Total current liabilities		423,876	421,364
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities		580,000	591,250
Pneumoconiosis benefits		60,077	55,278
Accrued pension benefit		39,031	40,105
Workers' compensation		47,486	49,797
Asset retirement obligations		122,434	91,085
Long-term capital lease obligations		80,150	15,624
Other liabilities		21,174	5,978
Total long-term liabilities		950,352	849,117
Total liabilities		$ 1,374,228	$ 1,270,481
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - (Note 20)
Alliance Holdings GP, L.P. ("AHGP") Partners' Capital:
Limited Partners - Common Unitholders 59,863,000 units outstanding		$ 567,259	$ 580,234
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(14,875)	(15,456)
Total AHGP Partners' Capital		552,384	564,778
Noncontrolling interests		441,748	453,496
Total Partners' Capital		994,132	1,018,274
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL		$ 2,368,360	$ 2,288,755

[1] Total assets at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 include investments in affiliate of $64.5 million, $12.9 million and $1.7 million, respectively, within Other and Corporate. Total assets at December 31, 2014 and 2013 include investments in affiliate of $211.7 million and $128.7 million, respectively, for the Illinois Basin segment.