Coal is Now a Critical Mineral

On 23rd May, the U.S. Department of Energy officially designated metallurgical coal - essential for steelmaking - as a critical mineral. This follows President Trump’s Executive Order from April 8, 2025, “Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry”, which has redefined coal’s role in both the U.S. economy and global energy markets.

This designation marks a seismic shift.

From reshaping global energy dynamics to transforming the commercial landscape for coal industry participants, the ripple effects are far-reaching.

At ZKR, we're actively partnering with clients to help them navigate and capitalise on this new market reality, identifying opportunities, mitigating risks, and future-proofing strategies in light of this historic move.

As they say on the London trading floors: "Coal’s gone bid."

And this time, it’s a market move that cannot be ignored.