Future environmental regulation of greenhouse gas, or GHG, emissions also could accelerate the use by utilities of fuels other than coal. In addition, state and federal mandates for increased use of electricity derived from renewable energy sources could affect demand for coal. For example, Congress has extended tax credits for renewable energy. In addition, a number of states have enacted mandates that require electricity suppliers to rely on renewable energy sources in generating a certain percentage of power. Such mandates, combined with other incentives to use renewable energy sources, such as tax credits, could make alternative fuel sources more competitive relative to coal. A decrease in coal consumption by the U.S. electricity utility industry could adversely affect the price of coal, which could adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows.
Efforts to promote energy conservation in recent years could reduce both the demand for electricity and the general energy consumption patterns of consumers worldwide. The ability of energy conservation technologies, public initiatives and government incentives to reduce electricity consumption or to support forms of renewable energy could reduce the price of coal. If coal prices decrease, our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows may be adversely affected.
Feasibility study results are based on assumptions that are subject to uncertainty, and the estimates may not reflect actual capital and operating costs or revenues from any potential future production.
Feasibility studies, including our BFS, are used to determine the economic viability of a mineral deposit. Such studies require us to make numerous assumptions, including assumptions about capital and operating costs and future coal prices. These assumptions are made at the time the study is completed based on information then available. We cannot assure you that actual costs or revenues will not vary significantly and adversely from the estimates used in the study. Accordingly, the economic viability of our mines, or the amount of mineral deposits that we will be able to economically extract, may differ materially from our estimates set forth in this annual report on Form 20-F.
We may depend on a limited number of customers for a significant portion of our revenues.
We likely will depend on a limited number of customers for a significant portion of our revenues. The failure to obtain additional customers, or the loss of all or a portion of the revenues attributable to any customer as a result of competition, creditworthiness, inability to negotiate extensions or replacement of contracts or otherwise, could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Economic downturns and disruptions in the global financial markets have had, and may in the future have, an adverse effect on the demand for and price of coal.
Economic downturns and disruptions in the global financial markets have from time to time resulted in, among other things, extreme volatility in securities prices, severely diminished liquidity and credit availability, rating downgrades of certain investments and declining valuations of others. These sorts of disruptions, and in particular the tightening of credit in financial markets, could result in a decrease in the demand for and the price of coal. Changes in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies, particularly where imported products are required for the mining process, could result in materially increased operating expenses. Any prolonged global, national or regional economic recession or other similar events could adversely affect the demand for and price of coal.
Risks Relating to Regulatory and Legal Developments
Climate change or carbon dioxide emissions reduction initiatives could significantly reduce the demand for coal and reduce the value of our coal assets.
Global climate issues continue to attract considerable public and scientific attention. Numerous reports, such as the Fourth and Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, have also engendered concern about the effect of human-activity GHG emissions, such as carbon dioxide and methane, on global climate. Combustion of fossil fuels like coal results in the creation of carbon dioxide, which is emitted into the atmosphere by coal end-users such as coal-fired electric power generators, coke plants, steelmaking plants and, to a lesser extent, the mining equipment we use. In addition, coal mining can release methane directly into the atmosphere. Concerns associated with global climate change, and GHG emissions-reduction initiatives designed to address them, have resulted, and are expected to continue to result, in decreased coal-fired power plant capacity and utilization, phasing out and closing of many existing coal-fired power plants, fewer new coal-fired power plants, increased mining costs and decreased demand and prices for coal.