[neilwilson]

Having said that if you have no source of iron ore and no self sufficient energy production you’re stuffed anyway.

The UK ran out of both a fair while ago

[t0mpr1c3]

Britain didn't run out of coal, it's just in deep seams that are uneconomic to extract compared to strip-mined lignite.

Newcastle is proverbially built on top of the stuff.

Although renewable energy sources and electric arc furnaces that consume scrap are preferred these days.

[lazide]

Notably, things like that is why they had their colonies.

[t0mpr1c3]

In fact, during the age of empire Britain exported coal all over the world. That was one resource it did have.

Cotton was another matter.

[lazide]

It still has 3+ billion tons of coal reserves - no one wants to burn them though, apparently.