In the latest direct demonstration of the human cost of coal mining, there has been an accident in Columbia. At least sixteen people are dead, while fifty are still trapped underground.
Columbia is one of the world’s largest coal exports, with the second largest reserves in South America, following behind Brazil.
I’m not surprised this was not reported in the Globe article, but if you look into the Company you will find that miners at this mine struck over unsafe working conditions earlier this month.
As discussed before, unionization and higher safety standards could both somewhat reduce coal production, by making the business less profitable.