Global demand for coal electricity rose 6% to 7,906 mt in 2021

Global demand for coal-led electricity increased by 6% to 7,906 million tonnes (mt) in 2021, and generation increased by 9% to 10,350 terawatt-hours (TWh).

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the generation has increased by 12% in India and 9% in China.

According to the Coal 2021 Report, coal production did not keep pace with the demand.

IEA said that the shortage of coal due to supply chain and weather conditions resulted in power outages and idled industries.

It added that major coal-producing countries, including India, China, Indonesia and Russia, are expected to boost coal production to the highest in 2022.

The 2018 Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said that the limit of global temperature had reached 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial levels.

According to the IEA report, the global power mix in 2021 is expected to be around 36%, which is 5% lower than its 2007 level.

In India, coal accounts for 74% of the power mix in 2021, increasing by 2% in 2020. As electricity access increases, coal demand is also expected to increase by 3.9% till 2024.

The country expects to increase coal production, and it is expected to rise to 955 mt by 2024 from 793 mt in 2021.

India had launched the fourth auction of coal mines for commercial mining that put 99 blocks on sale. Coal Minister, Pralhad Joshi, said that it is a step to ensure energy security in the country. He said that for the next 30-40 years, coal would be crucial in the energy sector.

Executive Director of IEA, Fatih Birol, said that coal is the largest source of global carbon emissions. A high level of coal-led power generation is a worrying sign of how far the world is in its effort to lower emissions towards the net-zero target.

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Also read: India's coal imports decline by 12% in April-August 2021