omical and only those countries, which have no domestic oil or gas reserves, have made them viable. Germany used this technique to produce synthetic diesel fuel during WWII and currently South Africa has a coal liquefaction plant in operation making gasoline and fuel oil (Miller, 1996).SummaryIn summary, the Nova Scotia coal mining industry is not dead, it is only on standby until such a time as it becomes economically viable. The same market forces and concepts that had given rise to it, and led to its demise will eventually revitalize it. Once the oil and gas reserves of the western provinces have been depleted Nova Scotia may become one of the "have" provinces supporting their failing industries. We may even see a shift in net-migration eastward. How far off into the future this will take place no one knows for sure, but the worlds hunger for fossil fuels is insatiable and it is only a matter of time....
