Demand for coal is strongest in developing countries. China generates more than 70% of its electricity with coal, and plans to build 600 GW of coal-fired plants in the next 25 years. China is the world’s biggest coal producer and now has to import more coal to keep up with its demand. China’s domestic supply is limited because the coal is located in the north and west, which is far away from the coastal cities that are booming. Also, China has old coal mines which are already very deep, making coal extraction very difficult and expensive. China makes up 40% of worldwide coal production. China has the number 2 largest coal reserves with about 187 billion tonnes that can last for about 62 years at 2009 rates of consumption. More than 90% of China’s coal comes from underground mines as far as 1 km deep. Using Hubbert’s peak oil analysis, Tao and Li forecast that China’s coal production will peak by 2025. China doesn’t just use its coal for electricity. Only 80% of China’s coal is used to generate electricity. 16% is used for the steel industry, 5% used for heating, and 28% used in the cement and chemical industries.
Coal is a large contributor to global warming. Stop and dislike global warming now!