Would-be comeback kid Tinkler says coal is far from doomed

Sydney

AFTER watching his fortune evaporate during the coal industry meltdown, you'd think Australian electrician-turned-entrepreneur Nathan Tinkler would have walked away from the industry for good. Instead, he's chastened and back in the game.

Coal is under siege as activists pressure utilities to close ageing power plants, nations take their boldest steps yet to cut pollution and President Barack Obama imposes tougher regulations in the United States. Even with those headwinds and prices languishing at the lowest levels since 2006, Mr Tinkler, 39, is making deals again as chief executive officer of Australian Pacific Coal.

"The Obama effect has definitely driven an activist view that coal is coming to the end of its life," said Mr Tinkler, who was ranked as Australia's youngest billionaire at the age of 35 by BRW magazine in 2011 until his wealth was slashed after a series of asset s…