South Africa to Australia: Why coal profits are surging during Iran war

What is Iran's Pickaxe Mountain? Crude oil and natural gas supplies have been disrupted worldwide by the United States-Israel war on Iran, but one energy sector appears to be cashing in - coal. This week, South Africa's thermal coal producer Thungela Resources said it had doubled its half-year profits as the war has forced more countries to buy the fuel. Mining it causes water pollution, and burning it releases enormous amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming. In recent months, several countries, especially in Asia, have reversed or delayed promises to scale back on coal production.