Nov 4, 2026 · about 350 roles
Not linked to AIWE Soda is cutting its Wyoming workforce in stages from more than 850 roles to about 500, about 350 fewer, from early 2027 through 2028, as it moves its Westvaco operation near Green River from underground mining to solution mining and sells less soda ash abroad.
The reason WE Soda gave
"Low-cost Chinese exports, together with the high cost of producing, transporting and shipping our soda ash from Wyoming, have fundamentally changed the economics of exports from this region. The response requires structural change if we are to preserve our Wyoming soda ash operations for future generations." ... "Regrettably, the transition will also require the company to reduce its Wyoming workforce, in stages, from over 850 roles today to approximately 500 over the next two years."Chief executive Alasdair Warren (first sentences) and WE Soda, in its release of 4 November 2026
The release does not mention AI or automation. The change is to a different way of mining, pumping brine underground to dissolve the trona instead of digging the ore out, which WyoFile called less labor-intensive; no report read tied the cut to AI.
Source: WE Soda (press release): WE Soda to transition its Wyoming operations to solution mining and reduce sales to export markets. Checked Nov 4, 2026.