Posted on 01/31/2013 7:01:50 AM PST by thackney
Coal consumption in China grew more than 9% in 2011, continuing its upward trend for the 12th consecutive year, according to newly released international data. China's coal use grew by 325 million tons in 2011, accounting for 87% of the 374 million ton global increase in coal use. Of the 2.9 billion tons of global coal demand growth since 2000, China accounted for 2.3 billion tons (82%). China now accounts for 47% of global coal consumption—almost as much as the entire rest of the world combined.
Robust coal demand growth in China is the result of a more than 200% increase in Chinese electric generation since 2000, fueled primarily by coal. China's coal demand growth averaged 9% per year from 2000 to 2010, more than double the global growth rate of 4% and significantly higher than global growth excluding China, which averaged only 1%.
Reliable cheap electricity is an absolute requirement for a prosperous modern culture. Without it, there is miserable poverty, famine, social and political unrest. China despite the environmental costs simply has no choice but coal. The laws of physics must be obeyed. Green energy can never power a modern grid in ample amounts. China has nuclear energy ambitions but simply does not have the expertise or the personnel to actually build and operate large numbers of nuclear plants. The death of King Coal has been greatly exaggerated.
It is a slow ride downhill in the US. Slow but down.
2012 Brief: Coal prices and production in most basins down in 2012
http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=9570
How much of this coal is mined in China ?
Shanghai 1990 vs. 2010 
China Coal Production
China Coal Consumption
More at:
http://www.eia.gov/countries/country-data.cfm?fips=CH&trk=p1#coal
They recently went from a net coal exporter to a net importer.
China Coal Exports (negative = imports)
Heck of a change since my dad was there in the 1930s.
Net exporter to net importer: Big Time
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