Former Alberta finance minister Robin Campbell has been named president of the Coal Association of Canada as the industry faces low prices and increased environmental concerns.

Campbell, who represented the riding of West Yellowhead in the Alberta legislature from 2008 until 2015, served as finance minister in the short-lived PC government of Jim Prentice.

He is also a former minister of the Environment and Sustainable Resource Development.

Campbell and the coal industry face a difficult economic environment as worldwide demand has dropped along with prices.

Premier Rachel Notley announced this fall that her government will move to phase out the use of coal to generate electricity in Alberta.