Oxford Resource Partners, LP (OXF)

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Oxford Resource Partners, LP (NYSE: OXF) (the "Partnership" or "Oxford") declared a cash distribution of $0.4375 per common unit for its first quarter ended March 31, 2012, consistent with its previously announced expectation regarding continued payment of the minimum quarterly distribution to common unitholders. The Partnership also declared a reduced cash distribution of $0.10 per subordinated unit for its first quarter ended March 31, 2012. The distribution will be paid on May 15, 2012 to all common and subordinated unitholders of record as of the close of business on May 8, 2012.

"We are continuing to make progress on the strategic initiatives we announced on March 21, 2012," said President and Chief Executive Officer Charles C. Ungurean. "These initiatives include the restructuring of our Illinois Basin operations and the further strengthening of our core Northern Appalachian operations, where we have a fully contracted book of business for 2012 and are more than 90% contracted for 2013 based on our very strong long-term customer relationships in the region. We continue to be a leading low-cost producer of steam coal and the largest producer of surface-mined coal in Ohio."

As previously announced, Oxford is transferring some of its mining equipment from its Illinois Basin operations to its Northern Appalachian operations to increase its productivity in the Northern Appalachian region, and is selling excess equipment from its Illinois Basin operations to strengthen its balance sheet. Oxford fully expects that these initiatives will reduce costs and enhance both its profitability and liquidity.

Until the results of these initiatives are realized, the Partnership will review and consider quarterly the appropriateness of temporarily reducing the amount of or suspending payment of its subordinated unitholder distribution. The Partnership intends to resume payment of the full subordinated unitholder distribution as soon as is prudent.

The Partnership will report its first quarter 2012 financial results and provide an update in more detail as to its progress on these strategic initiatives before the market opens on Thursday, May 3, 2012. The Partnership's management will hold a conference call to review the results and its progress on these initiatives at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on that day.

Participants may access the May 3, 2012 conference call by dialing [phone] or [phone] for international callers and providing passcode 17365686. The call will also be webcast live on the Internet in the Investor Relations section of the Partnership's website at www.OxfordResources.com.

An audio replay of the conference call will be available for seven days beginning at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 3, 2012 and may be accessed at [phone] or [phone] for international callers. The replay passcode is 19437693. The webcast will also be archived on the Partnership's website at www.OxfordResources.com for 30 days following the call