THE SQUEEZE IS ON, page-3283

I have read various stats which are quite consistent (including the IEA). Of the 8b tonnes of coal mined and consumed annually (the majority of which is lignite) China accounts for more the 5b tonnes. India is a distant second at 1.2b tonnes. Of course, this ignores the tens of millions of tonnes of Oz black coal which is also consumed by these two countries.

While China has marginally increased its renewables mix, its total energy consumption is also increasing annually (as it is globally). Hence, in absolute terms, China is burning more coal than ever even as it drops in percentage terms.

Additionally, hydro accounts for a fair proportion of its renewables mix but hydro also has an environmental cost. At numerous times in any year, the seven dams built by China and Laos (read China) which affect the Mekong cause that river to run like a drain. Not good for downstream Cambodia and Vietnam. Additionally, recent monsoonal rain in the region caused China to release water which, in turn, caused significant flooding in river towns such as Nong Khia (and other Thai towns and presumably Laos villages).

In all of this, there has to be context and balance and such is disturbingly absent with the current Oz Federal government. It is increasingly becoming the odd man out. Thanks for all of your research. Cheers Keith