WASHINGTON, D.C. – National Mining Association (NMA) President and CEO Rich Nolan issued this statement following an announcement from the White House banning imports of Russian oil, natural gas and coal to the United States.
“Our hearts are with the Ukrainian people, and we fully support this important step to deprive Russia of the economic resources used to wage war. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been a wakeup call about the need to reprioritize fuel security and diversity, and focus on the materials required for manufacturing and infrastructure around the world. As the nation with the world’s largest coal reserves, the U.S. can – and should – play a critical role in helping meet Europe’s energy and steelmaking needs in the months and years ahead. Private industry and policymakers should work hand-in-hand to ramp up domestic production and tackle supply chain barriers that stand in the way, including challenges with our nation’s railways and ports. As this moment reinforces, we must stop underinvesting in and targeting the fuels that remain the foundation of the global energy system, and prioritize affordable, reliable and secure energy. That begins with greater production and use of the resources we have here at home produced under the world’s highest labor and environmental standards. The U.S. mining community stands ready to partner with our allies and the administration to provide support in this extraordinary time.”
# # #