JOHANNESBURG--Written by Richard Finlayson, Senior International Editor for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--As the declining margins of U.S. domestic coal consumption show immediate effects on mining jobs and project development, those margins vary regionally and the medium- to long-term prospects of the industry are being driven by exports. With the decline of coal usage in base power generation causing an adjustment in the domestic market, major coal and energy companies are investing in the export supply chain. Other companies featured: Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU) , Kinder Morgan Energy (NYSE:KMP) , Arch Coal Incorporated (NYSE:ACI)