Black Trumps Green, as International Energy Agency Coal Report Shows Continued Growth

Dec. 24, 2019 (EIRNS)—It’s Sir Michael Bloomberg’s recurring nightmare: His travelling Green presidential bus every morning is covered with a thick layer of black coal dust. The International Energy Association (IEA) has released its Coal 2019 report, which shows that, while Bloomberg and friends might be wrecking coal in America and Europe, coal usage worldwide has remained strong and is expected to stay that way.

From the Executive Summary:

“Global coal demand increased by 1.1%, continuing the rebound that began in 2017 after three years of decline. The main driver was coal power generation, which rose almost 2% in 2018 to reach an all-time high. Coal maintained its position as the largest source of electricity in the world with a 38% share. The People’s Republic of China, India and other Asian economies led the expansion, while coal power generation fell in Europe and North America. In non-power sectors, despite a lot of coal-to-gas switching in China, demand remained stable. The international coal trade grew by 4% in 2018, surpassing 1.4 billion tons.”

After a 10-year surge—where coal consumption averaged a 5% annual growth rate from 2002-2012—usage has flattened for the last five years. The market for coal has shifted from the Atlantic to the Pacific, where Asian countries are experiencing high rates of growth, led by Indonesia and Vietnam, whose consumption rose by 5% in 2018.

This year’s report was released at an event in Johannesburg, South Africa, where embattled Department of Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe—also a strong proponent of nuclear power—was only too happy to use this as a weapon against the growing Green onslaught in the coal-rich nation. In his address, Mantashe insisted that any “transition” away from coal should “be done in a manner that is mindful of social, economic, as well as environmental considerations.”