The Trump administration has approved the expansion of Montana’s Bull Mountains coal mine, unlocking nearly 60 million tons of coal for export to key U.S. allies Japan and South Korea.
The Department of the Interior announced the decision Friday under President Trump’s national energy emergency directive. The move marks a strong return to coal as a core part of U.S. energy policy and global strategy. Signal Peak Energy will lead the expansion, which could extend the mine’s life by up to nine years and generate over $1 billion in local and state economic benefits.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum called the approval “energy leadership” that supports American jobs and strengthens energy security in the Indo-Pacific. The timing is significant, as Japan’s crude imports decline and South Korea seeks to diversify its energy sources.
Under Trump’s second term, coal has shifted from a political afterthought to a key geopolitical asset. The administration has pushed orders to stop coal plant closures, speed new builds, and reopen old facilities, focusing on grid reliability and foreign policy despite environmental criticisms.
Japan and South Korea, which import more than 80% of their energy, are seen as crucial in global energy competition. The Bull Mountains expansion also sends a message to China, whose coal-powered growth has outpaced the West for years.
By using coal exports as both an economic and diplomatic tool, the Trump administration signals it will compete for influence in the Indo-Pacific energy market. Coal, once dismissed, may be making a surprising comeback for America.
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