Thermal coal demand is booming (ie record levels) in China, &...

Thermal coal demand is booming (ie record levels) in China, & many parts of Asia- because only coal & gas provide cheap, reliable, baseload power.

(It should be noted that the recent flooding in China was in its nthn. regions, which are usually very dry. China's hydro-electricity dams are all in the usually wetter- but definitely not in 2023!- south).


The Hill V. Jayaraj 9.8.23 said

"Thanks to dry weather, China’s dams are failing to produce the expected electricity this year.

“Nationwide hydro generation in the first five months of 2023 was the lowest for the time of year since 2015, despite the commissioning of massive new dams and generating stations,”Reuters reported earlier this summer.

The result? “China’s coal-fired generation has increased the most of any power source this year as hydroelectric production has fallen amid lower-than-normal rainfalls that have reduced water levels on the biggest rivers and depleted hydro reservoirs,” OilPrice.com has reported.

In short, China’s embrace of coal as its fuel of choice for generating electricity continues to confound climate-obsessed predictions about the demise of fossil fuels...

China’s unabated and increasing use of coal has been driven by various factors. China has made efforts to diversify its energy mix and promote sources such as wind and solar power, but the sheer scale of its energy demands necessitates the continued use of coal.

The country’s rapid industrialization and urbanization (including big increase in air conditioners- my words) have created an insatiable appetite for energy, outstripping the capacity of so-called renewable sources to meet demand. As a result, China remains heavily dependent on coal to power its industries, provide electricity to its growing population, and fuel its economic expansion.

Moreover, China’s stance on coal extends beyond its own borders. The country’s Belt and Road Initiative, an ambitious development strategy focused on infrastructure investment and connectivity across Asia, Europe and Africa, is also expanding demand for fossil fuels. Through Belt and Road, China has been investing heavily in coal-fired power plants in developing countries, including those in Africa (& Asia- my words)".

https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/4140591-chinas-unbroken-commitment-to-coal-is-bucket-of-cold-water-over-green-global-visions/