{"id":5264,"date":"2020-02-15T09:46:43","date_gmt":"2020-02-15T08:46:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/euracoal.eu\/?page_id=5264"},"modified":"2020-02-15T09:46:43","modified_gmt":"2020-02-15T08:46:43","slug":"market-trends","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/?page_id=5264","title":{"rendered":"International coal market and global energy trends"},"content":{"rendered":"
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FGD plant at RWE Neurath power station, Grevenbroich, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany \u00a9 Industryandtravel | Dreamstime.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Around the world, coal makes a crucial contribution to the security of energy supply.\u00a0 It is a very competitive fuel and adds economic value wherever it is used:\u00a0 for steelmaking, for cement production and, most importantly, for electricity production.\u00a0 Coal oils the wheels of industry.\u00a0 A diverse energy mix with coal can be part of any strategy that aims to reduce risks and underpin sustainable economic growth.<\/p>\n

The aim of this section is to give an overview of how coal production and use in the European Union fit with the wider global picture of expanding coal consumption.\u00a0 Although it is impossible to forecast the future, it is instructive to look at current energy trends and examine how climate and energy policies may influence these trends.<\/p>\n

Coal and sustainability<\/strong><\/p>\n

The European coal industry believes that the three energy sustainability objectives \u2013 security of supply, competitiveness and environmental compatibility \u2013 must be pursued with equal effort.\u00a0 Europe\u2019s energy sector faces considerable challenges to ensure security of energy supplies and investment in new energy infrastructure.\u00a0 Conventional thermal power generation, including nuclear power plants and, to an even greater extent, coal-, lignite- and gas-fired power plants, will continue to be needed for decades to come, so, they need to be sustainable.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Figure 13 – The energy trilemma according to the World Energy Council (Source: World Energy Council, 2015)<\/em><\/p>\n

A key requirement for the development of sustainable energy supplies in Europe is competitiveness.\u00a0 Energy at affordable and equitable prices helps to maintain the competitiveness of European industry as a whole and allows people to enjoy comfortable lives.\u00a0 At present, the EU imports 55% of all the energy it consumes, at a cost of around \u20ac266 billion per year.\u00a0 The EU imports 87% of its crude oil needs, 74% of its fossil gas and 44% of its coal: all are rising.<\/p>\n

Managing energy-supply risks is an integral part of the Energy Union strategy of 2015.\u00a0 Two essential elements of a secure energy system are a diversity of energy sources and a diversity of energy technologies.\u00a0 A diverse energy mix, comprising indigenous and imported energy sources, including hard coal and lignite, helps to limit supply risks.<\/p>\n

Electric power is no longer generated using conventional hydro, coal, fossil gas and nuclear energy alone.\u00a0 Today, new renewable energy sources, such as wind turbines and solar PV, are growing in importance, but still require reliable backup from conventional sources, at least until large-scale electricity storage options become available.\u00a0 By valuing the flexibility and reliability of coal- and lignite-fired power generation, there is great scope for developing and implementing renewable energy sources to the maximum possible extent.\u00a0 The key to Europe\u2019s future power generation lies in a broad mix of energy sources, so that supply risks are minimised, reliability maximised, affordable electricity enjoyed and further progress made in environmental protection.<\/p>\n

Global energy mix and coal<\/strong><\/p>\n

World total primary energy supply in 2018 was 19.8 billion tonnes of coal equivalent (Gtce) of which 27.2% came from coal.\u00a0 Coal is of particular significance for electricity generation.\u00a0 Some 38.0% of global power generation and 20.0% of EU power generation in 2018 was based on coal.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Figure 14 – World total primary energy supply by fuel, 2018 (Source:\u00a0BP, 2019)<\/em> excludes non-commercial biofuels<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Figure 15 – World electricity generation by fuel, 2018 (Sources: IEA databases, BP, 2019 and own estimates)<\/em><\/p>\n

According to ENTSO-E (2019), 592 TWh of net electricity generation in the EU came from solid fuels in 2018 (284 TWh from hard coal, 294 TWh from lignite and the remainder from oil shale and peat).\u00a0 Hard coal-fired power plants in the EU have a total capacity of 99 GW and lignite-fired power plants add a further 52 GW.\u00a0 Individual countries have very different energy mixes for power generation, with coal being indispensable for many (Figure 16 and table on page 83).<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Figure 16 – Share of coal- and lignite-fired gross power generation in selected countries, 2017 and 2018 (Source:\u00a0IEA databases (including coal gases and coal products)<\/em><\/p>\n

World coal resources<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reserves of coal and lignite are abundant;\u00a0 total resources are estimated at 17 489 billion tonnes of coal equivalent (Gtce) of which only 1.2% have been extracted since 1950.\u00a0 Reserves amount to 747 Gtce and are substantially greater than those of either oil or fossil gas, even if one includes non-conventional oil and gas reserves.\u00a0 In fact, coal reserves account for over half of all non-renewable energy reserves and are distributed more equally than those of fossil gas or oil.\u00a0 The world coal market is a free commodity market, which \u2013 in contrast to oil and fossil gas markets \u2013 is not influenced by geopolitics or the formation of cartels.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Figure 17 – Global hard coal and lignite reserves as at 1.1.2018 (Source: BGR, 2019 and own calculations)<\/em><\/p>\n

EU coal resources<\/strong><\/p>\n

The availability of coal and lignite resources in Europe and around the world, combined with the high productivity of European coal and lignite producers and the diversity of coal exporters to Europe, guarantee a high degree of supply security and competitive prices.\u00a0 Indigenous energy production, diversified sources of import supply and the storage capacities available at mines, ports and consumers all help to ensure a stable supply chain.\u00a0 Unlike oil and fossil gas, coal does not require strategic stocks to safeguard against political risks.<\/p>\n

Table 2 – Non-renewable energy reserves in the European Union (Source: BGR, 2019)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

\n<\/td>\n

\n

Gtce<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

share<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Hard coal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

20.6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

51.0%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Lignite<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

16.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

40.5%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Oil<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.5%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Fossil gas<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4.2%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Uranium<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.8%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Total<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

40.5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

100.0%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

International coal market<\/strong><\/p>\n

The largest coal producers in 2018 were China and India, followed by the United States and Indonesia.\u00a0 Australia was the fifth largest coal producer and is the world\u2019s largest exporter of steam and coking coal by value.\u00a0 The European Union was the sixth largest producer, being the world\u2019s largest producer of lignite by a wide margin.\u00a0 The top\u201110 producers accounted for 94% of total world production.<\/p>\n

Table 3 – Largest coal producers, 2018 (Source: IEA Coal Information 2019 and EURACOAL members)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n\n


\nCountry<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

\n


\nCoking coal
\n<\/span><\/b>(Mt)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n


\nSteam coal
\n<\/span><\/b>(Mt)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n


\nLignite
\n<\/span><\/b>(Mt)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n


\nTotal
\n<\/span><\/b>(Mt)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

China<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3026.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

523.7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

–<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3550.1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

India<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

676.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

49.2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

45.3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

770.9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

United States<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

561.7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

71.9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

51.7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

685.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Indonesia<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

543.0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5.6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

–<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

548.6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Australia<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

257.8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

179.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

46.0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

483.1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

EU-28<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

15.5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

60.2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

366.9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

442.6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Russia<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

245.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

93.0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

81.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

419.8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

South Africa<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

254.2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

–<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

258.7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Kazakhstan<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

96.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10.8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

113.7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

10<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Turkey<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

85.2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

87.8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

<\/td>\n\n

others<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

298.1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

34.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

120.3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

452.6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

<\/td>\n\n

World<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5976.8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1033.3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

803.2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7813.3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Figure 18 – Largest coal producers in 2018, billion tonnes (Source: IEA Coal Information 2019)<\/em><\/p>\n

The largest coal consumers in 2018 were China and India, followed by the United States.\u00a0 The European Union was the fourth largest consumer, with steam coal for electricity generation being the main use of coal, accounting for three quarters of all coal and lignite use on an energy basis.\u00a0 The top\u201110 consumers accounted for over 90% of total world consumption, with the European Union accounting for 7.8%.\u00a0 At 1.2 tonnes, the annual per-capita <\/i>coal consumption of European Union citizens is above the global average of 1.0 tonne of coal per person.<\/p>\n

Table 4 – Largest coal users, 2018 (Source: IEA Coal Information 2019 and EURACOAL members)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n\n


\nCountry<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

\n


\nCoking coal
\n<\/span><\/b>(Mt)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n


\nSteam coal
\n<\/span><\/b>(Mt)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n


\nLignite
\n<\/span><\/b>(Mt)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n


\nTotal
\n<\/span><\/b>(Mt)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

China<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

587.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3157.8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

–<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3745.1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

India<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

97.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

842.3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

45.3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

985.0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

United States<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

16.7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

545.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

52.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

614.5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

EU-28<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

55.0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

175.9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

368.6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

599.6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Russia<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

64.5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

93.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

73.8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

231.7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

South Africa<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

186.1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

–<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

189.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Japan<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

46.7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

139.3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

–<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

186.0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

South Korea<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

36.9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

106.9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

–<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

143.8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Turkey<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7.7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

33.1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

84.9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

125.7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

10<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Indonesia<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7.5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

107.6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

–<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

115.1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

\n<\/td>\n

\n

others<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

69.0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

547.8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

168.5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

785.3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

<\/td>\n\n

World<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

992.1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5935.6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

793.5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7721.2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Figure 19 – Largest coal users in 2018, billion tonnes (Source:\u00a0IEA Coal Information 2019)<\/em><\/p>\n

Global seaborne hard coal trade is estimated at 1 210 million tonnes in 2018, of which 906 million tonnes were steam coal and 304 million tonnes were coking coal.\u00a0 Seaborne coal trade can be divided into Pacific and Atlantic markets, each with different supply patterns.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Figure 20 – World traded coal flows in 2018 (Source:\u00a0VDKi, 2019)<\/em><\/p>\n

Important exporting countries for steam coal and coking coal are Australia, Indonesia, Russia, the United States, Colombia and South Africa and who together accounted for 91% of all coal exports in 2018 (Table 5).<\/p>\n

Table 5 – Largest coal exporters, 2018 (Source: IEA Coal Information 2019)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n\n

Country<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

\n

Coking coal
\n<\/span><\/b>(Mt)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Steam coal
\n<\/span><\/b>(Mt)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Total
\n<\/span><\/b>(Mt)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Indonesia<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

435.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

439.0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Australia<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

179.2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

202.7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

381.9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Russia<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

26.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

183.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

209.9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

United States<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

55.8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

49.1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

104.9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Colombia<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

79.5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

81.9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

South Africa<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

68.2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

69.3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Mongolia<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

25.7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8.3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

34.0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Canada<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

28.9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

29.9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Kazakhstan<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

22.2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

25.8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

10<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Mozambique<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6.2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11.6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

\n<\/td>\n

\n

others<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

28.2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

31.9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

<\/td>\n\n

World<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

336.8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1083.3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1420.1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Top coal importing countries are China, India, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, together accounting for 65% of all coal trade in 2018.\u00a0 In the European Union, Germany and Poland were the biggest coal importers in 2018, followed by Spain, Italy and France.\u00a0 Leading exporters to the European Union are Russia, Colombia, the United States, Australia and South Africa.\u00a0 In 2017, 38.9% of all coal imports into the European Union came from Russia.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Figure 21 – Hard coal imports into the EU by country of origin, 2017 (Source:\u00a0 European Commission DG Energy, 2019)<\/em><\/p>\n

Global energy trends<\/strong><\/p>\n

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FGD plant at M\u00e1trai Er\u0151m\u0171 power station, Visonta, Hungary \u00a9 Marotistock | Dreamstime.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Future world energy scenarios to 2040 and beyond from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and other respected bodies show a marked increase in world total primary energy consumption, with more or less similar proportions of oil, coal and gas in the energy supply mix.<\/p>\n

In contrast to the global picture of growing fossil fuel use and hence rising carbon emissions, leaders of the European Union have agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80\u201195% by 2050 compared with 1990 levels.\u00a0 Their ambition is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, such that residual man-made emissions are balanced by enhanced removals.\u00a0 The European Commission presented its Energy Roadmap 2050<\/i> in December 2011, accompanied by an impact assessment in which it details various scenarios to achieve an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.\u00a0 While all sectors are analysed, the power sector is seen as the one carrying most of the burden of emission reductions.<\/p>\n

The IEA World Energy Outlook <\/i>analyses future energy supply and demand to 2040.\u00a0 In its Stated Policies Scenario, the Agency assumes the cautious implementation of already announced policy measures.\u00a0 Figures 22 and 23 show that coal and lignite are expected to remain an important albeit smaller component of EU energy supply for many years.<\/p>\n

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Figure 22 – EU production of coal and lignite<\/p>\n

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Figure 23 – EU consumption of coal and lignite (Sources: European Commission, 2011 & 2016 and IEA, 2019a)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Around the world, coal makes a crucial contribution to the security of energy supply.\u00a0 It is a very competitive fuel and adds economic value wherever it is used:\u00a0 for steelmaking, for cement production and, most importantly, for electricity production.\u00a0 Coal oils the wheels of industry.\u00a0 A diverse energy mix with coal can be part of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":5253,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5264","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5264","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5264"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5264\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5253"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}