How to use natural resources efficiently is very important to achieve sustainable economic development. In this regard, this study takes coal resource utilization efficiency as an example, uses panel data of 30 provinces and cities in China from 2011 to 2020, and constructs a spatial Durbin model to test the impact of coordinated development of two-way foreign direct investment (FDI) on coal resource utilization efficiency and its spatial spillover. On this basis, we innovatively introduced additional variables such as scientific and technological innovation and big data development to test possible mediating or moderating effects. The results show that the relationship between coordinated development of two-way FDI and coal resource utilization efficiency is U-shaped; it also has a significant spatial spillover impact on coal resource utilization efficiency; scientific and technological innovation ability mediates the effect of coordinated development of two-way FDI on coal resource utilization efficiency; big data development level moderates the impact of coordinated development of two-way FDI on coal resource utilization efficiency. The findings contribute to the theoretical framework of natural resource utilization by emphasizing the necessity of coordinated development of two-way FDI, scientific and technological innovation, and big data development in realizing natural resource efficient utilization.