The future, page-5

Heatwave lifts coal prices:
Australian thermal coal prices have hit fresh six-year highs as a heatwave across the northern hemisphere has triggered a spike in demand for coal-fired power to help keep air conditioners cranking out cool blasts.
Spot thermal coal cargo prices from Australia’s Newcastle terminal last settled at $US121.75 per tonne, their highest since February 2012 and up by a third from their 2018 low, set in April.
“Extreme heat in Asia and Europe is pushing power demand for industrial and also residential cooling above what’s normal for this time of the year,” said one utility trader, declining to be named as he was not authorised to talk about commercial matters.
“Coal has reacted stronger than natural gas because more spare coal capacity has been activated,” he said.
Reuters