Unconsolidated Subsidiaries (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]

Consolidation, Variable Interest Entity, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Nine of NACoal's wholly owned subsidiaries each meet the definition of a variable interest entity: The Coteau Properties Company ("Coteau"); The Falkirk Mining Company ("Falkirk"); The Sabine Mining Company ("Sabine" and collectively with Coteau and Falkirk, the "project mining subsidiaries"); Demery Resources Company, LLC (“Demery”); Caddo Creek Resources Company, LLC (“Caddo Creek”); Camino Real Fuels, LLC (“Camino Real”); Liberty Fuels Company, LLC (“Liberty”); NoDak Energy Services, LLC ("NoDak") and North American Coal Corporation India Private Limited ("NACC India"). The project mining subsidiaries are capitalized primarily with debt financing, which the utility customers have arranged and guaranteed and which are without recourse to NACCO and NACoal. Demery, Caddo Creek, Camino Real and Liberty (collectively with the project mining subsidiaries, the "unconsolidated mines") were formed to develop, construct and operate surface mines under long-term contracts. NoDak was formed to operate and maintain a coal processing facility. The debt obligations of the unconsolidated mines are without recourse to NACCO and NACoal. NACC India was formed to provide technical advisory services to the third-party owners of a coal mine in India. The contracts with the customers of the nine unconsolidated subsidiaries allow for reimbursement at a price based on actual costs plus an agreed pre-tax profit per ton of coal sold or actual costs plus a management fee. Although NACoal owns 100% of the equity and manages the daily operations of these entities, the Company has determined that the equity capital provided by NACoal is not sufficient to adequately finance the ongoing activities or absorb any expected losses without additional support from the customers. The customers have a controlling financial interest and have the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of the entities. As a result, NACoal is not the primary beneficiary and therefore does not consolidate these entities' financial position or results of operations.