But the industry has struggled in recent years to compete against cheaper imported coal and cleaner forms of energy.

But in periods of low demand, it is displacing cheap coal.

But we are trying to save our resources on the domestic front by using more natural gas and cheap coal.

But miners say that the continuing importation of cheap foreign coal is helping to put their jobs on the scrap heap.

The initially high freight charges encouraged the import of cheap British coal.

The end of wartime price controls introduced competition to produce cheaper coal, putting pressure on wages.

They burn cheap coal rather than clean but expensive natural gas.

Its generators use gas and oil instead of cheaper coal.

They will gain from the ability to buy cheap imported coal in coming years.

But she said South Africa also needs to develop, and that cheap coal is an important part of its energy mix.