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Coal’s future:
New report charts path to sustainability

Modern coal technologies, outlined in FutureCoal’s Sustainable Coal Stewardship, have the ability to deliver global climate goals while continuing to foster socio-economic growth.

Given the growing demands of a digital and electrified world, FutureCoal’s new report released today, ‘Roadmap for a Sustainable Coal Value Chain’, outlines how advanced coal technologies can not only provide clean energy, reducing up to 99% of emissions, including CO2, but also support the growth aspirations of developing and emerging economies.

Key report findings include:

Emission reductions: high-efficiency low emissions (HELE) coal plants and carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies could reduce emissions by up to 1.4 billion t CO2 annually – equivalent to removing 310 – 560 million SUVs from global roads. Economic growth: Replacing coal plants with ultra-supercritical plants could inject over US$1.5 trillion into the global economy. In contrast, replacing coal with alternative energy would cost an additional US$2.7 trillion due to shortfalls in output. High value applications: Coal remains essential to key sectors, including steel (70% production), cement (90%), and aluminium (60%), while also producing cost-effective hydrogen and providing critical minerals like copper, cobalt, nickel, and more for renewable energy and battery storage.

Paul Baruya, FutureCoal’s Director of Strategy and Sustainability, stated:

“This report challenges outdated views of coal, reminding us that it is a versatile resource vital to modern life, industrial development and economic progress. Given its high-value applications, strategic investments in advanced coal technologies ensures economic solutions worldwide.”

The report underscores coal’s positive impact on global communities, including job creation and providing essential resources for food security and infrastructure. It also calls for increased collaboration across the coal value chain to realise these opportunities through innovation and technology transformation.

Baruya concluded:

“Over the past year, FutureCoal’s Sustainable Coal Stewardship roadmap has been challenging and reshaping how stakeholders view coal. This report builds on that progress, showing that a globally united value chain can shape a sustainable and responsible coal future.”

Published in World Coal, 10 December 2024

This month's top international coal headlines

  • Coal continues to dominate China’s energy landscape — Oilprice.com
  • Indonesia's 2024 coal output hits record high — Reuters
  • Demand remains weak in South African thermal coal market as buyers stay on sidelines — Platts CTI
  • Growth was a common theme at the 20th McCloskey Southern African Coal Conference — Helmo Preuss
  • MINING INDABA: S African minister calls for Africa to beneficiate its own minerals — Platts CTI
  • API2: Coal prices rise as natural gas hits 15-month high — i-Energy
  • API4: Price move north buoyed by the rising tide of the API2 contract — i-Energy
  • Thermal coal: Market pauses amid subdued demand and new year holidays
    — i-Energy
  • Richards Bay coal exports soar as Transnet’s recovery plan bears fruit
    — Platts CTI
  • Weak buying activity in Asian thermal coal market on low Indian bids, China’s absence — Platts CTI
  • Weak demand weighs on South African thermal coal exports — Platts CTI
  • Prices rangebound at Asian thermal coal market amid limited enquiries
    — Platts CTI

Headlines from earlier this year

January 2025
  • Asian thermal coal market slows; major participants away for holidays — Platts CTI
  • API2: Prices stabilize as market sentiment shifts with easing supply concerns
    — i-Energy
  • API4: Price corrected downward as support from API2 weakened — i-Energy
  • Thermal coal: Market struggles to stay afloat amid seasonal slowdown — i-Energy
  • Falling temperature in Europe leads to slight rise of coal consumption, prices volatile — Platts CTI
  • Global Coal Use Hits Another Historic Record in 2024 — IER
  • Trump Pauses Permitting for All Renewables on Federal Lands — Heatmap
  • Twenty-five years of German energy transition: a way not to go — Clintel.org
  • Demand remains weak in South African thermal coal market as most buyers stay on sidelines — Platts CTI
  • President Trump withdraws from Paris Agreement again despite climate crisis
    — Energy Institute
  • European thermal coal derivatives volume rise 11% MOM in Dec amid favourable market economics: LEBA — Platts CTI
  • API2: Coal prices rebound amid natural gas surge, market dynamics drive gains
    — i-Energy
  • API4: Price adjust upward, reflecting API2 contract movement — i-Energy
  • Thermal coal: Market faces bearish trend amid weak demand and oversupply
    — i-Energy
  • China ramps up coal production amid renewable energy development
    — Global Energy
  • Spots of demand appear in Med, MENA thermal coal market for late Q1-Q2
    — Platts CTI
  • Buyers continue to place low bids in South African thermal coal market kept trades limited — Platts CTI
  • IEA: Global coal demand set to plateau through 2027 — World Coal
  • API2: Coal price plummets to 10-month low — i-Energy
  • API4: Weak global coal demand hits SA coal prices hard — i-Energy
  • Thermal coal: No sign of recovery, prices hit 42-week low, remain in the red
    — i-Energy
  • India sponge iron producers buy three SA cargoes — McCloskey
  • South African thermal coal prices fall further amid lackluster demand — Platts CTI
  • Asian thermal coal market remains cautious amid weak demand — Platts CTI
  • API2 prices surge before leveling off, weighed down by muted demand — i-Energy
  • API4 coal futures took a southward turn — i-Energy
  • Thermal coal: Prices stay stuck in the red, struggling for a rebound — i-Energy
  • India's coal production and dispatch post notable growths in Dec 2024
    — sxcoal.com
  • TURKEY DATA: Thermal coal imports drop 11% on month in Nov with buyers on sidelines — Platts CTI
  • ITALY DATA: October thermal coal imports drop on month amid sufficient stocks
    — Platts CTI
  • Thin demand persists in Asian thermal coal market as buying interest wanes further — Platts CTI
  • South African thermal coal market sees activity slowdown during year-end holidays — Platts CTI

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