Rocks and hard places

Despite the environmental, political and infrastructure challenges faced by US coal, some believe high-sulphur grades could soon be back in fashion. David Watkins investigates

With next year's US election fast approaching, heavily polluting industries such as coal are easy targets for green election campaigns. Coal producers and consumers are once more being cast as the villains of the piece.

"Election politics are likely to turn more bestial for coal," wrote Citigroup analyst John Hill recently in a note that downgraded US coal company stocks across the board.

A