Trends in the business models transformation of coal mining companies in contemporary conditions
K.S. Sablin, E.V. Goosen, S.M. Nikitenko, O.K. Goosen
Federal Research Center of Coal and Coal Chemistry of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kemerovo, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №3/ 2026 p. 165-171
Abstract: Growing risks associated with the global energy transition, green challenge and geopolitical crisis are forcing coal mining companies to radically change their business models. The research has determined that the main areas of transformation include restructuring of operations and assets, investments in technologies, and a search for new forms of integration with partners. It is shown that the stage of stable growth in the coal industry has given way to the stage of the industry’s restructuring. This created and increased the risks that are unpredictable and non-insurable. The rent received is identified as a key source of competitiveness for coal mining companies. Case studies of foreign coal mining companies are presented revealing the significance of each type of rent in the modern conditions. It has been revealed that risks do not pose a barrier to the development of coal mining companies, but rather they provide new opportunities for finding and strengthening their competitive edges. It is concluded that different combinations of various types of rent allow coal mining companies to transform their business models with account of the specific features of the rapidly changing external environment.
Keywords: coal industry, coal mining companies, business model, rent, ecology
Acknowledgements: The research was supported by Russian Science Foundation grant No.25-28-01232, https://rscf.ru/project/25-28-01232
For citation: Sablin K.S., Goosen E.V., Nikitenko S.M., Goosen O.K. Trends in the business models transformation of coal mining companies in contemporary conditions. Russian Mining Industry. 2026;(3):165–171. https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2026-3-165-171
Article info
Received: 21.02.2026
Revised: 24.03.2026
Accepted: 13.04.2026
Information about the authors
Kirill S. Sablin – Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Associate Professor, Head of Laboratory, Federal Research Center for Coal and Coal Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kemerovo, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5478-7481; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Elena V. Goosen – Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Leading Researcher, Federal Research Center for Coal and Coal Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kemerovo, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1387-4802; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sergey M. Nikitenko – Dr. Sci. (Econ.), Chief Researcher, Federal Research Center for Coal and Coal Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kemerovo, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4516-9064; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Olga K. Goosen – Junior Researcher, Federal Research Center for Coal and Coal Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kemerovo, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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