CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES:
Coal sales	$ 438,744	$ 401,292
Transportation revenues	9,596	6,558
Other sales and operating revenues	12,665	4,875
Total revenues	461,005	412,725
EXPENSES:
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization)	262,792	263,579
Transportation expenses	9,596	6,558
General and administrative	16,447	17,553
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	65,127	70,607
Total operating expenses	353,962	358,297
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS	107,043	54,428
Interest expense (net of interest capitalized for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 of $81 and $227, respectively)	(7,516)	(7,615)
Interest income	25	4
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates	3,700	(27)
Other income	1,298	91
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	104,550	46,881
INCOME TAX BENEFIT	(12)	(8)
NET INCOME	104,562	46,889
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	(49,551)	(16,047)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P. ("NET INCOME OF AHGP")	$ 55,011	$ 30,842
BASIC NET INCOME OF AHGP PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.92	$ 0.52
DILUTED NET INCOME OF AHGP PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT (in dollars per unit)	0.92	0.52
DISTRIBUTIONS PAID PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.55	$ 0.96
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING – BASIC (in units)	59,863,000	59,863,000
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING - DILUTED (in units)	59,863,000	59,863,000