How The Navajo Became America's Third-Largest Coal Producer | Forbes

Last August, NTEC announced a deal to acquire three enormous mines in Wyoming and Montana from bankrupt Cloud Peak Energy for about $100 million and the assumption of all cleanup costs. The acquisition increased NTEC’s coal output more than tenfold to nearly 60 million tons, 9% of total U.S. tonnage, making the Navajo America’s third-largest coal miner.

Tribal leaders were shocked. NTEC, although owned by the tribe, was set up as a semiautonomous organization. It wasn’t required to consult with the tribe on the purchase—and it didn’t. While NTEC plans to create revenue from this acquisition, it faces a decline in coal usage in the U.S. The inexorable death of the Navajo coal industry began nearly two decades ago, when California decided that power generated by burning coal was too dirty to use. Neighboring states followed that lead. Across the U.S., the amount of coal being burned in power plants is at a 42-year low.

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[XiuLiwa]

This is happening in South Africa as well. Wealthy companies are offloading their coal mines on disenfranchised groups(black SAians) and it is seen as progress. But the question is, will this prove to be a mistake in the future? We’ll see if the “investments” are worth it.

[matthewpinto]

The Navajo Nation revenue on Natural Resources doesn't go back into the tribal economy but only into the pockets of the tribal leaders. I've yet to see the Navajo Nation Politicians care for their own people. Just look at pur reservation as a whole. Housing, Hospitals, clinics, Utilities to tribal members, roads, schools, our law enforcement, jails, Fire houses and EMS. Tribal building and event centers and the economy itself. Don't get me wrong those who have made it on to Ntech are doing great but no one knows the truth. Its time we expose our tribal leaders and move forward with a better leadership that will make sure our profits from Natural, tourism, and organizational profits go back to the Nation the right way.

[jettbezos]

What risk a white CEO that is being pay to play monopoly with other people's money

[manavmishra]

Get rid of this dirty fuel..environment is more important than profits

[Je.rone_]

If I don't stop seeing that stuttering Joe Biden campaign commercials before your videos 😅

[lnnn]

Hard to get on with Navajo Coal, your lucky to run anything only through contractors but at their pay rate and not NAs. 🧐

[KillroyX]

While coal is down in the US now, I bet the US is exporting a lot of coal since Russia invaded Ukraine.

[Billy-hgwy]

Look who’s destroying the environment now😂😂

[royroy]

Not that I have anything against the Navajo people, but i hope coal mining will be brought to a stop, not only in the USA, but world-wide. Their economic problems cannot be solved on the account of continue polluting this planet's atmosphere. They should have found better and healthier way of earning money.