The role of coal in future energy and industrial planning

Coal may not traditionally appear on most countries’ lists of critical minerals, but it does appear on some.

In South Africa, thermal coal is officially classified as highly critical because of its central role in energy security, the economy and export markets.

India has designated metallurgical coal as a strategic mineral to strengthen domestic steel production and reduce import dependence.

In the United States, metallurgical coal was added to the 2025 Critical Minerals List published by the Department of the Interior and the US Geological Survey.

At the same time, coal remains foundational to many major economies. China still derives roughly 60% of its energy mix from coal, underpinning both its industrial base and its global dominance in renewables manufacturing.

And in South Africa, coal continues to provide the bulk of baseload power, raising questions about what a realistic and just energy transition looks like for developing economies.

But does coal’s role in energy security, steelmaking and industrialisation effectively make it “critical” to the energy transition — particularly in Africa, where vast critical mineral deposits require reliable power for extraction and processing?

ESI Africa caught up with Michelle Manook, CEO of FutureCoal, at the Investing in African Mining Indaba 2026 to unpack where coal fits in current and future energy planning.

In this podcast, she makes the case for advancing coal power technologies to make emissions abatement a meaningful possibility and reminds us that a sustainable energy future must be inclusive and consider all energy sources and their potential for improvement.

Cover photo:  Michelle Manook, FutureCoal CEO, at Investing in African Mining Indaba 2026.