Coal on the rise in China, US, India after major 2016 drop (USA Today/AP)

[eppur_se_muova]

Matthew Brown and Katy Daigle, The Associated Press Published 8:51 a.m. ET June 26, 2017 | Updated 8:51 a.m. ET June 26, 2017

BEIJING — The world's biggest coal users — China, the United States and India — have boosted coal mining in 2017, in an abrupt departure from last year's record global decline for the heavily polluting fuel and a setback to efforts to rein in climate change emissions.

Mining data reviewed by The Associated Press show that production through May is up by at least 121 million tons, or 6%, for the three countries compared to the same period last year. The change is most dramatic in the U.S., where coal mining rose 19% in the first five months of the year, according to U.S. Department of Energy data.

Coal's fortunes had appeared to hit a new low less than two weeks ago, when British energy company BP reported that tonnage mined worldwide fell 6.5% in 2016, the largest drop on record. China and the U.S. accounted for almost all the decline, while India showed a slight increase.

The reasons for this year's turnaround include policy shifts in China, changes in U.S. energy markets and India's continued push to provide electricity to more of its poor, industry experts said. President Donald Trump's role as coal's booster-in-chief in the U.S. has played at most a minor role, they said.

The fuel's popularity waned over the past several years as renewable power and natural gas made gains and China moved to curb dangerous levels of urban smog from burning coal.
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more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/06/26/coal-rise-china-us-india-after-major-2016-drop/427818001/#

[kristopher]

1. Some additional details -- Ind-Ra notes low coal stocks at power plants

There are two trends, increased renewable capacity that is outstripped by increased demand. Modi seems intent on expanding renewables quickly. More generally, Trump's Paris antics seem to have prodded both India and China to recast themselves into the role of strong advocates for decarbonization. Let's hope that translates into faster action.


"The increased focus on renewable energy has led to a fall in the proportion of coal-based capacity, to 59% in May 2017, from 62% last May."

MUMBAI, JUNE 28:
Coal availability declined at thermal power stations in April and May, with stock touching critical levels (less than five or seven days) and super critical levels (less than three or four days) at at least eight plants across the country, India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) said in its report on the domestic power sector.

Coal stock at 113 power plants was 17.73 million tonnes (94 per cent domestic and 6 per cent imported) in May, down by 25 per cent month-on-month.

This is the lowest coal stock inventory in the last 17 months.

Analysts note that the inventory at plants reduced due to higher coal consumption, as power generation increased given a sharp rise in demand from several States. At the same time, coal production from Coal India Ltd declined in May by 4.3 per cent year-on-year to 40.7 million tonnes.

Power deficit

Overall, power demand in May 2017 increased by 6.3 per cent compared to May 2016 to 105.5 billion units (BUs). Even after the sharp increase in demand, India was able to manage the power deficit at 0.6 per cent, aided by strong generation growth at 7.3 per cent year-on-year...
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/indra-notes-low-coal-stocks-at-power-plants/article9740479.ece