The coal industry makes a dramatic comeback.

The article reports on the recovery of the coal industry in 1972, with the decline of gas and oil supplies and nuclear energy and the increasing cost of gas and oil. An increase in projected demand for coal is discussed, supported by new technologies in the energy business to use coal for synthetic gas. Environmental issues faced by coal operators are discussed, as well as the impact of safety laws on the industry. Concerns about the formation of a monopoly among large coal producers and major oil companies are highlighted.