{"id":327832,"date":"2024-05-11T17:03:13","date_gmt":"2024-05-11T15:03:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=327832"},"modified":"2024-05-11T17:03:16","modified_gmt":"2024-05-11T15:03:16","slug":"asia-embraces-coal-as-the-u-s-rejects-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=327832","title":{"rendered":"Asia Embraces Coal as the U.S. Rejects It"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
SHANXI, CHINA -NOVEMBER 25: (CHINA, HONG KONG, MACAU, TAIWAN OUT) Coal is piled up as it is sorted at a coal mine on November 25, 2015 in Shanxi, China. A history of heavy dependence on burning coal for energy has made China the source of nearly a third of the world’s total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the toxic pollutants widely cited by scientists and environmentalists as the primary cause of global warming. China’s government has publicly set 2030 as a deadline to reach the country’s emissions peak, and data suggest the country’s coal consumption is already in decline. (Photo by Kevin Frayer\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Vijay Jayaraj<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vietnam and other Asian countries are on a coal spree! Given the dynamics of energy use in the rapidly developing industrial sector there, it is no surprise that these nations have backpedalled on big promises made at international climate conferences to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vietnam\u2019s projected 2024 growth rate for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stands at 5.8%<\/a>, the sixth highest in Asia. Among the biggest contributors to GDP is the industrial sector (38 percent<\/a>), especially manufacturing. S&P Global has noted a considerable improvement in Vietnam\u2019s manufacturing sector in the fourth quarter of 2023 and is expecting Vietnam to perform well this year<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Electricity is a cornerstone to manufacturing operations in Vietnam. In 2023, coal produced more than 40% of all electricity<\/a> in the country, while the country\u2019s abundant hydro reserves contributed around 30%. Natural gas accounted for about 10%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, 2024 is expected to see a shortfall in hydroelectric generation because of less rainfall<\/a>. Simultaneously, electricity production with natural gas is being complicated by forecasts of higher gas prices. Bloomberg reports that state-run PetroVietnam Gas \u201crecently decided not to purchase<\/a> a cargo for June due to high offer prices.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, the heavy lifting to meet power demand must now come from coal. The country is urging coal miners to maximize production before demand reaches peak in the summer months. The country\u2019s prime minister has asked for an increase in coal exploration as well, signalling a sustained interest in medium to long-time reliance on coal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vietnam\u2019s move to increase coal use was inevitable. It cannot continually risk a huge demand-supply gap whenever dams go dry or gas prices skyrocket. The growth rate of power demand from expanding industries is increasing at a fair pace, and energy security is critical in ensuring manufacturing\u2019s positive trend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similar Pattern Across Asia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Across Asia, a similar phenomenon is unfolding. The regional coal resurgence can be attributed to the rapid economic growth in these countries. China, the world\u2019s largest coal consumer, witnessed a rise in consumption in 2024. Earlier this year, reports<\/a> showed the construction of dozens of new coal plants in China. In 2023, the country accounted for 95% of construction of the world\u2019s new coal power plants<\/a>. There are a total of 1,142 operating coal-fired plants<\/a> in China, which is five times more than in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

India, another major player in the Asian energy market, also saw an increase in coal imports and production. India has increased its spending on infrastructure, with an expected rebound<\/a> in demand for coal-based steel and raw material manufacturing. Indonesia has 254<\/a> operational coal-fired power plants and 40 new plants under construction. Japan, too, is a big consumer of coal, being the top importer of Australian coal in recent years<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like Australia, the U.S. has been a top source of coal imports for these Asian countries. S&P Global says, \u201cU.S. metallurgical coal exports have seen growth fueled by Asian demand over the past few years. The potential for seaborne volumes to grow hinge on expansions in blast furnace steelmaking and met coke production in India, China and Southeast Asia.\u201d New mines such as Arch Resource\u2019s Leer South and the AMCI, POSCO and Itochu-led Allegheny Met\u2019s Longview mine will play a role in meeting this demand from Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is an irony that U.S. miners are able to meet Asian needs while their own government rejects them as a fuel source for cheap electricity!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The advancement of recent emission-reduction targets for U.S. industry, as well as restrictions on the export capacity of natural gas by the Biden administration is quite astonishing in light of the ongoing expansions in fossil fuel capacity by various Asian nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The quality life for millions of Americans could very well decline in return for zero environmental benefit as that of Asians improves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This commentary was first published at Real Clear Energy<\/em><\/a> on May 8, 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vijay Jayaraj is a Research Associate at the\u00a0<\/em>CO2 Coalition<\/em><\/a>, Arlington, Virginia. He holds a master\u2019s degree in environmental sciences from the University of East Anglia, U.K.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Vietnam and other Asian countries are on a coal spree! Given the dynamics of energy use in the rapidly developing industrial sector there, it is no surprise that these nations have backpedalled on big promises made at international climate conferences to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":327834,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691828568,691818341,691819635,691818231],"class_list":["post-327832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-asian-countries","tag-china","tag-coal","tag-vietnam","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/0-Asia-Embraces-Coal.jpg?fit=2200%2C1467&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1nhC","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":279756,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=279756","url_meta":{"origin":327832,"position":0},"title":"China Coal: Reuters\u2019 \u201cweird climate logic\u201d","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"09\/21\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cAccording to Reuters, China is justified in burning massive amounts of coal because it uses some of that electricity to charge EVs, enabling it to reduce its crude oil imports, which is even more evil than coal. The world can continue to ignore the fact that China and the other\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"China Coal\"","block_context":{"text":"China Coal","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=china-coal"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/0PKG3J6_Chinas_coal_consumption_on_the_rise.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/0PKG3J6_Chinas_coal_consumption_on_the_rise.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/0PKG3J6_Chinas_coal_consumption_on_the_rise.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/0PKG3J6_Chinas_coal_consumption_on_the_rise.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/0PKG3J6_Chinas_coal_consumption_on_the_rise.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":247438,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=247438","url_meta":{"origin":327832,"position":1},"title":"Biden\u2019s Secretary of Energy say\u2019s U.S. can \u201clearn\u201d from China on Climate Change","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"03\/14\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Biden\u2019s Secretary of Energy say\u2019s U.S. can \u201clearn\u201d from China on Climate Change","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-375.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-375.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-375.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-375.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-375.png?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":276627,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=276627","url_meta":{"origin":327832,"position":2},"title":"China continues coal spree despite climate\u00a0goals","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"08\/31\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"China is approving new coal power projects at the equivalent of two plants every week, a rate energy watchdogs say is unsustainable if the country hopes to achieve its energy targets.","rel":"","context":"In \"China\"","block_context":{"text":"China","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=china"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/00climate-jumbo.webp?fit=1024%2C596&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/00climate-jumbo.webp?fit=1024%2C596&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/00climate-jumbo.webp?fit=1024%2C596&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/00climate-jumbo.webp?fit=1024%2C596&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":290694,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=290694","url_meta":{"origin":327832,"position":3},"title":"Net Zero\u2019s dirty secret: Britain\u2019s green transition is powered by Chinese\u00a0coal","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"12\/10\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Tansport crates with Chinese flag on the conveyor belt. Global exportation concept. From NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT By Paul Homewood \u00a0New Statesman analysis of climate and trade data exposes how much the UK\u2019s net-zero agenda depends on cheap foreign coal power, particularly from China. The UK\u2019s top\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"China\"","block_context":{"text":"China","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=china"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/00too-dependent-on-China-scaled-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/00too-dependent-on-China-scaled-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/00too-dependent-on-China-scaled-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/00too-dependent-on-China-scaled-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/00too-dependent-on-China-scaled-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":292468,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=292468","url_meta":{"origin":327832,"position":4},"title":"Old King Coal at COP28: Uninvited Guest or Star of the Show?","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"12\/24\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Much maligned coal continues to support human flourishing. Its use in the developing countries will continue to grow in the decades to come. Meanwhile, we will see just how \u201ctemporary\u201d is Germany\u2019s existential move back to coal this winter. Old King Coal was the elephant in every COP28 meeting room\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"COP28\"","block_context":{"text":"COP28","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=cop28"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/image-553.png?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/image-553.png?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/image-553.png?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/image-553.png?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":238203,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=238203","url_meta":{"origin":327832,"position":5},"title":"China to accelerate approval of new coal projects to ensure energy supply","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"01\/06\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"China reiterated its focus on energy security on Wednesday, vowing to ensure the supply of energy and electricity, coordinate resources and accelerate approval of new coal projects, while asking coal enterprises to expand production as peak season approaches.","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-228.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-228.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-228.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-228.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-228.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327832","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=327832"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327832\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":327836,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327832\/revisions\/327836"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/327834"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=327832"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=327832"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=327832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}