Trump, China, and Italy Provide Desperate Support, Yet Coal Prices Continue to Plunge
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Coal prices continue to fall despite numerous positive news reports.
According to Refinitiv, coal prices closed at US$132.4 per tonne on Thursday’s trading (9/4/2026), weakening by 0.04%.
This decline extends the suffering of coal, which has plummeted 6.1% over the last two days.
Coal prices remain on a downward trajectory in line with the easing of energy prices from oil to gas. Positive news from the United States (US), Italy, to China has failed to lift the price of the black rock.
AP reported that the Trump administration on Thursday proposed major changes to federal regulations on coal ash waste, including plans to exempt more than 100 ash disposal sites from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cleanup obligations.
The draft rules would reduce several new requirements related to groundwater monitoring and coal ash waste oversight that were previously set during the Joe Biden administration era.
These rules would also loosen provisions for reusing the waste in products such as cement.
Administration officials stated that these changes would provide regulatory relief for utility and coal industry companies.
“We are proposing these changes to increase transparency and encourage resource recovery, while still protecting human health and the environment for all Americans today and in the future,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin in a press release.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the proposal reflects a commitment to restoring American energy dominance, strengthening federal cooperation, and accommodating unique conditions at certain coal facilities.
From Italy, the country has delayed the permanent closure of four coal-fired power plants until 2038. This step was taken after the war in the Middle East caused a surge in electricity generation costs based on gas.
Italy has incorporated this policy into a broader draft law to address the energy crisis. Parliament approved the rules on Wednesday after the government linked them to a confidence motion. This means that if they lose the vote, the right-wing coalition government could collapse.
This decision is a step back from the commitments first made in 2017 under Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni to phase out coal use by 2025 on the mainland and 2028 on the island of Sardinia.
The Mediterranean island, with a population of around 1.5 million people, still heavily relies on coal for electricity due to limited grid connections to mainland Europe and the slow development of renewable energy.
Riccardo Molinari, a parliamentarian from the ruling coalition party Lega who pushed for this amendment, said the plants could be maintained as a strategic reserve that could be activated if needed.
Meanwhile, thermal coal prices at the mine mouth in major regions of China rose slightly, continuing a mild recovery trend driven by restocking activities.
However, caution still dominates the market, so price increases tend to be limited.
The price rise also occurred due to repurchases by end-users.