Dan Murtaugh and David Stringer, Bloomberg News A miner stands alongside a roadheader excavation machine in the Osinnikovskaya coal mine, operated by Raspadskaya PJSC, in Osinniki, Russia, on Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. Russian steelmaker Evraz Plc is considering options for demerging its Raspadskaya coal business that's valued at about $1.5 billion. Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg , Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- Coal prices across Asia are surging to records, underscoring a challenge for governments seeking a faster energy transition: the dirtiest of fuels theyâre racing to phase out is enjoying booming demand. Power plants are rushing to secure adequate electricity supplies as a hot summer adds to demand from the regionâs post-pandemic industrial revival. On top of that, output in some key producer nations has been hurt, while high natural gas costs mean thereâs no cheaper alternative for utilities to turn to.