U.S. Coal Industry Suffers, while Coal Use Grows Dramatically in India and China

America’s coal industry has been suffering a serious downturn. Federal regulations have encouraged electric utilities, major users of coal, to either install extremely expensive environmental controls on coal plants or switch to cleaner-burning natural gas for fuel. Many mines have ceased production, and layoffs have been significant.

A bright spot in the U.S. coal industry may be coal from the Illinois Basin. This particular coal burns hotter than many other types, making it more emission-efficient, and it is well suited to today’s scrubber-equipped coal-fired plants.

Meanwhile, both China and India have been constructing large numbers of coal-fired electric utility plants in an effort to spur economic activity and service expanding demand for electric power. For the mid-term, China will continue to rely very heavily on coal for generation. Unfortunately, its coal-fired plants are very heavy polluters, adding to China’s already great dilemma with industrial emissions. China’s burning of coal is one of the world’s largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions. Adoption of clean coal technologies, such as scrubbers (although very expensive), would be an immense help. China holds massive coal reserves. Over the very long term, the country hopes to lessen its dependence on coal, largely through the construction of nuclear plants and an expansion of solar facilities.

As of 2023, the latest year available, the EIA’s analysts found that mainland China accounted for nearly 56% of the world’s coal consumption. China burnt coal equal to 15,028.12 million barrels of oil equivalent that year, up from 14,451.12 million barrels in 2022. In India, BP found that coal consumption reached 3,592.76 million barrels of oil equivalent in 2023, up from 3,285.46 million barrels in 2022. In contrast, North American consumption fell to 1,340.34 million barrels in 2023, compared to 1,618.21 million barrels in 2022, and total European consumption fell by 20.4% to 895.74 million barrels.

For now, India will continue to rely very heavily on coal-burning electric generating plants. India’s use of coal will accelerate along with its economic growth. For the very long-term, the nation has a vision of significant development of nuclear, as well as solar and other renewable sources.

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U.S. Coal Industry Suffers, while Coal Use Grows Dramatically in India and China, Business and Industry Trends Analysis

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