If the goal is preserving an energy source for use after civilizational collapse, and the coal industry is in structural decline, then it’ll be cheaper to wait and buy a mine in the future (assuming there’s enough coal left and that civilization hasn’t collapsed by that time).
If the goal is preserving an energy source for use after civilizational collapse, and the coal industry is in structural decline, then it’ll be cheaper to wait and buy a mine in the future (assuming there’s enough coal left and that civilization hasn’t collapsed by that time).
If the decline continues, then the coal mines are even less relevant. But maybe this is to hedge against them coming back in vogue?
You’re thinking that if renewables take over, then coal mines will be abandoned and preserved without us doing anything?
Yeah that’s my default hypotheses and (I think) what’s driving the intuition behind John’s and Owen’s posts/comments.